Kate's First Appearance Since Birth Of George

Looking slim and relaxed, the Duchess of Cambridge has appeared in public for the first time since giving birth to Prince George.

Kate joined William as he launches the gruelling, three-day annual "ultra" marathon run around the coast of the island of Anglesey, North Wales.

The Duke was attending one of his final public engagements on the island as his time there with the RAF comes to an end.

The couple met some of the runners and their families and volunteers before the start - but they did not take Prince George along.

William and Kate chatted to locals at the race

Kate said her son was doing "very well" and that he was sleeping.

"Hopefully he'll be like that for a little bit longer," added the Duchess.

Kate accepts gifts from local children

She was also overheard telling well-wishers: "He's very sweet".

William was introduced to a child called George. "Hello, George," he said. "...much larger than our George."

Kate talks to well-wishers

The annual event - known as the Ring O' Fire - is a 135-mile foot race around the rugged coast, staged over three days and including 13,695 feet of ascent.

The presence of Kate was a surprise - it was revealed only on Friday morning that she would be joining her husband.

William starts the "ultra" marathon

A fortnight ago, William said a public goodbye to Wales as he confirmed his young family would be leaving their Anglesey home and moving "elsewhere" when his posting comes to an end this month, having completed his three-year tour of duty as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot based at RAF Valley.

He is widely expected to leave North Wales and return to London with Kate and their baby son to take on more royal duties rather than stay in the service.

At the Anglesey Show, he spoke movingly about his time on the island, saying he would miss living and working in the area "terribly" and joked about the demands of looking after a newborn baby with Kate.

The couple presented Prince George to the world in July

With the birth of George last month, the Cambridges are now a family unit and their Kensington Palace apartment is expected to become their main home.

22.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Syria: Cameron Still Wants 'Robust Response'

David Cameron has vowed to keep pushing for a "robust response" against the Syrian regime following his crushing Commons defeat.

The Prime Minister said it was a "regret" that he had been unable to rally support for military action in Syria after last week's chemical attack in Damascus.

But he promised to respect the will of Parliament and confirmed the involvement of UK troops was completely off the table because of MPs' strong opposition.

Mr Cameron said: "I think it's important we have a robust response to the use of chemical weapons and there are a series of things we will continue to do.

"We will continue to take a case to the United Nations, we will continue to work in all the organisations we are members of - whether the EU, or Nato, or the G8 or the G20 - to condemn what's happened in Syria.

"It's important we uphold the international taboo on the use of chemical weapons."

In Washington, President Barack Obama is meeting with his national security team to discuss the crisis. US officials are then expected to release intelligence regarding the chemical attack.

UN inspectors in Syria are wrapping up their investigation

Former Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown suggested Mr Cameron had been left "broken-backed" by the Commons defeat and Britain was reduced as a country.

He told Sky News: "I fear as I wake up this morning that our country is a hugely, hugely diminished country.

"In more than 50 years of trying to serve my country in one form or another, I don't think I have ever felt more depressed or ashamed."

Chancellor George Osborne also admitted there would be "national soul-searching" about the UK's role on the world stage following the vote.

But Mr Cameron insisted Britain remained "deeply engaged" as he rejected the idea he would have to apologise to Barack Obama for not joining any future coalition.

Highlighting the UK's military power and diplomatic influence, he said: "We have great strengths as a country, we should continue to use those.

"But on this specific issue, because of the huge concerns about this appalling Syrian conflict and people worrying about how we might get sucked into it, on that specific issue that trumped, as it were, the sense of outrage about the chemical weapons.

"I understand that, I get that."

The Prime Minister recalled Parliament for an emergency debate and vote following the atrocity in Damascus, where more than 1,300 people are believed to have died.

Urging MPs to support possible military action against Bashar al Assad regime, he called the massacre "abhorrent" and the cause of "sickening human suffering".

Mr Cameron admitted it was not possible to be 100% certain the Assad regime was behind the attack in Damascus but said he had been convinced by the evidence available.

Syrian leader Bashar Assad remains defiant

But he was left humiliated when 39 Tory rebels and nine Liberal Democrats joined with Labour to oppose the Government and won by 285 votes to 272.

The Prime Minister had already been forced to water down his position by Labour and promise direct British involvement would require a second vote.

Education Secretary Michael Gove was heard shouting "disgrace, you're a disgrace" at coalition rebels after the result was announced.

The Scottish National Party's Westminster leader Angus Robertson told Sky News he watched as the minister had to be "persuaded to calm down".

Mr Osborne insisted it was a testament to Mr Cameron that he had gone to Parliament to ask for its consent, rather than pushing ahead.

One of the Tory rebels, former minister Crispin Blunt, also brushed off the impact on the Prime Minister's reputation as a "temporary blip".

"He has done a huge amount to repair the reputation of the institution of Parliament, having learned the lessons from Tony Blair and the experience of 2003 and Iraq," he said.

"He exposed himself to the potential for defeat last night because of the way he manages Parliament. That is to his eternal credit."

But Labour leader Ed Miliband accused Mr Cameron of "reckless and impulsive leadership" and trying to force the issue in order to fit in with the US.

"People are deeply concerned about the chemical weapons attacks in Syria, but they want us to learn the lessons of Iraq," he said.

David Cameron said he didn't feel he needed to apologise to Barack Obama

"They don't want a rush to war. They want things done in the right way, working with the international community."

Mr Miliband infuriated Downing Street by refusing to back the Government even after the Prime Minister made major concessions.

Asked if the leader had behaved dishonourably, Mr Cameron said: "It's a matter for him to defend the way he behaved and his conduct. In the end, opposition leaders have to make choices just as prime ministers make choices."

He added: "I made a sincere and I believe powerful argument, but people have equally sincere and powerful views in a different way.

"That's what Parliament's for, that's what democracy is for. We vote, we decide and then we act accordingly."

The White House insisted Britain remained "one of our closest allies and friends" and promised the US would continue to communicate with No10 over Syria.

But Caitlin Hayden, Mr Obama's National Security Council spokeswoman, hinted at possible unilateral action by saying he would act based "on the best interests" of the US.

"He believes that there are core interests at stake for the US and that countries who violate international norms regarding chemical weapons need to be held accountable," she said.

The Turkish foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, said intelligence gathered in Ankara left "no doubt" that the Assad regime was responsible for the chemical attack. Turkey has said it would be ready to take part in any international action against Syria.

French president Francois Hollande also made clear he would be ready to go ahead without Britain as he insisted all options are still on the table.

Stressing the need for "proportional and firm action", he said: "The chemical massacre of Damascus cannot and must not remain unpunished."

However, Vladimir Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov is reported to have said: "We wouldn't want, of course, for the situation to be getting close to when one country or a group of countries would indict, judge and execute a sentence all on its own accord."

22.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Syria: Obama Meets National Security Team

President Barack Obama is meeting with senior national security advisers at the White House to discuss plans for possible military action against Syria.

The meeting is expected to be be followed by the public release of a report on intelligence the US has gathered about last week's deadly chemical weapons attack in Syria.

Washington may proceed with military action against Syria even without allied support, US officials have said.

But they stressed no final decision has been made on America's response to the Syrian government's alleged chemical weapons attack, which is said to have killed 1,300 people.

Veto-holding members of the United Nations are at odds over a draft Security Council resolution that would authorise "all necessary force" in response to the alleged gas attack.

The UK's traditional role as America's most reliable military ally was called into question when David Cameron became the first British prime minister in history to be blocked by MPs over the prospect of military action.

A chastened-looking PM, struggling to make himself heard over calls of "resign" from the opposition benches, told them "I get it" as he abandoned hopes of joining any US strike on Syria.

Mr Obama is under pressure to provide a legal rationale for military action

Speaking after the historic defeat, the White House said Mr Obama would decide on a response to chemical weapons use in Syria based on US interests, but that Washington would continue to consult with Britain.

British chancellor George Osborne acknowledged that the inability to commit British forces to any American-led operation against Assad would damage the special relationship between Westminster and Washington.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think there will be a national soul-searching about our role in the world and whether Britain wants to play a big part in upholding the international system, be that big, open and trading nation that I like us to be, or whether we turn our back on that."

Sky's Foreign Affairs Editor Tim Marshall said the relationship between Britain and the US was "bruised but not broken". "I don't think there's a divorce on the cards, a bit of bickering perhaps," he added.

US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel, speaking on a trip to the Philippines, said: "It is the goal of President Obama and our government ... whatever decision is taken, that it be an international collaboration and effort."

America is mulling whether to strike Syria without UN backing despite some of the more hawkish figures in the US cautioning against military action.

Former president, George W Bush, told Fox News Mr Obama had a "tough choice to make" but would not be drawn on what he should do.

He added: "I was not a fan of Mr Assad. He's an ally of Iran and has made mischief."

David Cameron was blocked by MPs over the prospect of military action

Former Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who helped spearhead US invasions in Iraq and Afghanistan, said: "There really hasn't been any indication from the administration as to what our national interest is with respect to this particular situation."

He said, if anything, the US should be more concerned with Iran.

Earlier, top US officials spoke to key Democrat and Republican politicians for more than 90 minutes in a conference call to explain why they believe the Syrian regime was responsible for the suspected chemical attack.

They have been pressing Mr Obama to provide a legal rationale for military action, and to lay out a firm case linking President Bashar al Assad's forces to the attack.

Tennessee Senator Bob Corker, a senior Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said after the briefing that "strong evidence of the Assad regime's continued use of chemical warfare" merited a military response.

It remained to be seen whether any sceptics were swayed by the call, given the expectation that officials would hold back classified information to protect intelligence sources.

"The main thing was that they have no doubt that Assad's forces used chemical weapons," New York Rep Eliot Engel, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said after the briefing.

But he said officials did not provide much new evidence of that.

A UN weapons expert at the site of an alleged chemical attack in Syria

"They said they have (intercepted) some discussions and some indications from a high-level official," he said, and that they possess intelligence showing material being moved in advance of the attack.

France announced that its armed forces "have been put in position to respond" if President Francois Hollande decides on military action.

He does not need French parliamentary approval to launch military action that lasts less than four months.

Moscow and Beijing have both vetoed previous Western efforts to impose UN penalties on Syria.

China has also been keen to show it is not taking sides and has urged the Syrian government to talk to the opposition and meet demands for political change.

Mr Assad, who has denied using chemical weapons, vowed his country "will defend itself against any aggression".

Mr Obama has ruled out putting American forces on the ground in Syria or setting up a no-fly zone over the country.

He said any US response would be limited in scope and aimed solely at punishing Mr Assad for deploying deadly gases, not at regime change.

The most likely military option would be Tomahawk cruise missile strikes from four Navy destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

22.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Syria: Napalm-Like Burns After School Attack

People suffering from Napalm-like burns have been speaking of an attack in which a plane apparently dropped an incendiary bomb on students in Syria.

Video said to be from the town of Urum al Kubra, close to Aleppo, shows a man reported to be a school teacher, who says the students were attacked as they tried to escape from an attack nearby.

"The plane hit a residential area in Urum al Kubra," he explains.

"We tried to get out quickly so we don't get hurt, but it seems someone's fate caught up with them today.

"A gathering of students formed, which is normal as the students needed to leave under these circumstances, and the plane hit us."

The injuries were like those caused by Napalm, according to doctors

The video, posted on the internet, is said to have come from an account associated with a rebel group in Aleppo.

In another video filmed in the aftermath of the attack, a doctor reports seven deaths and 50 injuries - and says the burns resembled Napalm injuries.

However, the use of the substance has not been confirmed.

Separate footage showed other victims of the alleged attack and a features a woman who introduces herself as Dr Roula, from organisation 'Hand in Hand for Syria'.

She says: "There was an attack on a college in an area close to here.

"It seems to be a chemical attack similar to Napalm, which causes huge burns. There are seven people dead so far and around 50 wounded.

UN chemical weapons inspectors will end their Syria mission by the weekend

"What we can do here is give wounded people first aid. Most of the cases can be treated here so we keep them here, and we sent some cases to Turkey, I mean the dangerous ones. "

A BBC television crew who witnessed the bombing reported no shrapnel injuries and said the victims resembled "the walking dead".

Napalm is not classified as an outlawed chemical weapon although it can cause devastating burn injuries.

Infamously used in the Vietnam War - and the Second World War - the jelly-like substance sticks to skin and burns at very high temperatures.

A United Nations convention prohibits using incendiary weapons against civilians, or against military targets located near civilian populations.

The pictures of the school attack emerged after MPs voted against military action over alleged chemical weapons gas attacks by the Syrian regime.

Some have described the outcome as a "humiliation" for the Government and it means the US may have to go ahead alone with any military strikes.

22.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rolf Harris Charged With Child Sex Offences

Rolf Harris has been charged with nine counts of indecent assault and four counts of making indecent images of a child.

The 83-year-old is accused of the assault offences between 1980 and 1986 relating to two alleged victims, who were aged 14 and 15 at the time, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

The charges he faces are:

:: Six counts of indecent assault relating to a girl aged between 15 and 16, from 1980 to 1981;

:: Three offences of indecent assault relating to a girl aged 14, in 1986;

:: Four offences of making indecent images of a child between March and July 2012.

Harris performed last year at the Queen's Jubilee concert

Harris was interviewed under caution on November 29 last year, five days after his Berkshire home was searched.

Police passed their evidence to the CPS on August 12.

"We have carefully considered the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police Service as part of Operation Yewtree in relation to Rolf Harris, who was initially arrested on November 29 2012 over allegations of sexual offences," said the CPS' Alison Saunders.

"A file of evidence was passed to the CPS on August 12 2013.

"Having completed our review, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Harris to be charged."

Harris will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on September 23.

The entertainer was awarded a CBE in 2006

The Australian, who painted a portrait of the Queen in 2005 and performed at her Diamond Jubilee concert last year, has been a family favourite for decades.

He had his first musical hit Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport in 1960, and continued to enjoy success in the industry, gaining cult status in recent years and performing at Glastonbury festival several times.

Harris, who has lived in Bray, Berkshire, for more than 50 years, was awarded an MBE in 1968, an OBE in 1977 and a CBE in 2006, and was made Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours list last year.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Syria Debate: Cameron Makes Case For Action

David Cameron has urged MPs to support his position on military action in Syria as he declared "this is not like Iraq".

The Prime Minister said the "abhorrent" chemical weapons attack in Damascus last week had caused "sickening human suffering" and could not be ignored.

But he stressed his plans should not be compared to the allied invasion of Iraq in 2003, which led to the downfall of Saddam Hussein.

Starting an emergency debate in the Commons, Mr Cameron admitted this had sparked "deep public cynicism" about military intervention.

However, he said: "This is not like Iraq, what we are seeing in Syria is fundamentally different. We are not invading a country. We are not searching for chemical or biological weapons."

Ed Miliband is demanding "compelling evidence" against the Assad regime

Ahead of an important Commons vote, he warned "decades of painstaking work" would be undone if there was no international action.

"The global consensus against the use of chemical weapons will be fatally unravelled, a 100-year taboo would be breached," he warned.

The Prime Minister admitted there was no "one smoking piece of intelligence" that proved the Assad regime was behind the atrocity.

But he said he had been convinced by the available evidence and told MPs it was now up to them to make the same judgement.

He warned Syrian leader Bashar Assad would conclude he could "use these weapons again and again and on a larger scale and with impunity" if the world stood by.

"In the end we can't know the mind of this brutal dictator, all we can do is make a judgment about whether it is better to act or not to act and make a judgment about whether he is responsible or not responsible," he said.

Despite efforts to secure a UN Security Council resolution, Mr Cameron argued this should not be the only basis for possible action.

Indicating Britain could ignore a veto by Russia or China, he said his test would be if there was "overwhelming opposition" at the UN.

Anti-war protesters outside Parliament during the debate

The debate came after Downing Street published its legal advice for action and a letter detailing the position of intelligence experts.

Government lawyers believe Britain could launch a targeted strike on humanitarian grounds without agreement at the UN.

And evidence from the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) found a chemical weapons did take place and it was "highly likely" the Assad regime was to blame.

MPs will vote tonight on the principle of military action, with any direct British involvement requiring a further Commons vote.

Mr Cameron was forced to abandon plans for early intervention due to Labour opposition - but the party is still vowing to oppose the Government motion.

It called the Prime Minister's new position "opaque" and is demanding "compelling evidence" before committing itself.

Number 10 has reacted furiously to Ed Miliband's positioning, accusing him of "playing politics" and attempting to divide the country.

But in the Commons, the Labour leader insisted "evidence should precede decision" and that the UN was not an "inconvenient sideshow" but essential to building a case.

He told the House he had not ruled out military intervention but said: "We need to be clear-eyed about the impact this would have."

Calling for respect to be shown to the UN, he added: "I am very clear about the fact that we have to learn the lessons of Iraq."

UN inspectors investigating the attack this week

A frustrated Number 10 argued that the evidence from the intelligence services and publicly available material, including YouTube videos, was clear.

"Are we seriously suggesting that rows of three-year-old children frothing at the mouth and dead were somehow made to act this out?" a senior source said.

"Experts who have looked at this video have said it is conclusive that something like sarin was used here. The idea that this was concocted in some way is ridiculous."

Former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind said it was impossible to have 100% proof the regime was involved but insisted the available evidence was strong.

The chemical weapon attack was in the same Damascus suburb where a sustained military attack by government forces was taking place, he pointed out.

And he warned MPs: "At this very moment, the Assad regime in Damascus is watching very carefully to see whether they will get away with what they have done.

"If there is no significant international response of any kind, then we can be absolutely certain that the forces within Damascus will be successful in saying we must continue to use these whenever there is a military rationale for doing so.

"There is no guarantee that a military strike against military targets will work, but there is every certainty that if we don't make that effort to punish and deter, then these actions will indeed continue."

UN weapons inspectors are due to finish their work on Friday and will report directly to secretary general Ban Ki-moon within 24 hours.

But their conclusions will not apportion blame - they will only set out the evidence on whether a chemical attack happened or not.

Before the debate in Britain, Syria's Parliament called on British MPs to avoid "reckless action", warning intervention could help terrorists and lead to the deaths of UK troops.

In a letter, it declared a strike would be "an aggressive and unprovoked act of war" and said: "We ask you not to bomb us but to work with us."

Assad also issued a fresh warning on Thursday that the country would "defend itself in the face of any aggression".

Six British RAF Typhoon jets have been sent to Cyprus as tensions mount, in what the Ministry of Defence called a "prudent and precautionary measure".

Meanwhile, reports suggested Russia - a key ally of Syria - is sending warships to the Mediterranean.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Syria: Russia And US Send Warships To Med

Russia and the US have sent further warships to boost their military capacity in the Mediterannean as expectations grow of an imminent strike on Syria.

Syria's ally Russia is sending an anti-submarine ship and a missile cruiser to the Mediterranean, according to Russian news agency Interfax.

An armed forces source reportedly said the planned deployment was in response to the "well-known situation" - a clear reference to the conflict in Syria.

The navy has denied the deployment is linked to events in Syria, saying it is part of a planned rotation of its ships in the Mediterranean.

UN inspectors continue their investigations but will leave on Friday

In the US, a defence official has said a fifth destroyer, the USS Stout,  has been deployed to the Mediterranean and is "heading and moving east".

The guided missile destroyer is due to relieve the Mahan, but both ships might remain in place for the time being, the official said.

Other destroyers in the region - the Ramage, the Barry and the Gravely - criss-cross the Mediterranean and could launch their Tomahawk missiles toward Syria if so directed by US President Barack Obama.

President Assad was shown on state TV meeting Yemeni politicians

Russia is strongly against any military intervention in Syria, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov believing it would seriously destabilise the region.

Mr Lavrov has said any attack without UN Security Council approval would be a "crude violation" of international law.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has spoken to German leader Angela Merkel by phone, with the pair agreeing the Syrian conflict can be solved politically, the chancellor's spokesman said.

"The chancellor called on the Russian president to use negotiations in the UN Security Council for a quick, unanimous international reaction," he added.

Public opinion in Germany is overwhelmingly against military action in Syria, less than four weeks before an election in which Mrs Merkel hopes to win a third term.

Mr Lavrov has warned against an attack without Security Council approval

The warship reports come after US President Barack Obama said the US had studied evidence and concluded that the Syrian government was behind the alleged attack.

Mr Obama said any strike would be to "send a shot across the bow" and give a "pretty strong signal that [Syria] better not do it again".

He added the US had not yet made a firm decision about how to respond, but that it could take action even without the backing of allies or the United Nations.

However, behind the scenes, US intelligence officials are reportedly saying the intelligence is no "slam dunk".

The president's national security adviser Susan Rice, intelligence director James Clapper, defence secretary Chuck Hagel and secretary of state John Kerry are to brief Congress on Syria later, according to Reuters.

Questions are said to remain about who actually controls some of Syria's chemical weapons and whether President Assad himself explicitly ordered the alleged attack.

Military action is unpopular in Germany, where Mrs Merkel faces an election

Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta told state radio that his country condemned the Assad regime but would not join any military operation without UN Security Council authorisation.

The Syrian leader was shown meeting Yemeni politicians on state television on Thursday.

It quoted President Assad as saying the country would defend itself in the face of any aggression.

A draft resolution by the UK on authorising a strike failed to win the approval of the UN Security Council on Wednesday as Russia reiterated its objections.

China has also entered the discussion and warned the West against any military action. 

"China calls on all parties to exercise restraint and remain calm and to remain committed to the correct track of political solutions," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

British involvement in any strike will be debated today by politicians in the House of Commons.

Meanwhile, United Nations weapons inspectors set out on Thursday morning for the Damascus suburbs in a third day of investigations.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has pleaded for all sides to hold off on any military strikes.

He said his inspection team would soon finish its investigation, leaving Syria on Friday and reporting their findings to him the following day.

Last week's alleged chemical attack is claimed to have killed 1,300 people.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sabrina Moss: Man Charged With Murder

A 22-year-old man has been charged over the shooting murder of Sabrina Moss in north London.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had authorised charges for the 24-year-old nursery teacher's murder in Kilburn on Saturday.

Sarah Maclaren, from the CPS London Homicide Unit, said: "The Crown Prosecution Service has today, August 29, authorised the Metropolitan Police Service to charge Martell Warren, 22, with the murder of Sabrina Moss, who was fatally shot in Kilburn in the early hours of August 24.

"Mr Warren has also been charged with three counts of attempted murder and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life."

Warren, of Station Road, Hillingdon, will appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Flowers left outside a takeaway in Kilburn where Ms Moss was shot

Ms Moss was shot in the chest near a fast food restaurant in Kilburn and died in hospital from her injuries.

A second 24-year-old woman, Sabrina Gachette, was injured in the shooting and remains in hospital. Her condition is described as stable and non-life threatening.

Scotland Yard confirmed two other counts of attempted murder related to two men who suffered gunshot wounds and were initially arrested in connection with the shooting, before being released without charge.

Police believe the women were "in the wrong place at the wrong time" when they were injured.

Ms Moss' parents John and Andrea described their daughter as a "fun-loving girl" and a "perfect mother" to her young son.

They said: "Our family has been devastated by this horrific incident that has changed our lives forever.

"Sabrina was a lovely daughter and a perfect mother to her young son, whom she adored."

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Marseille Petition 'Asks Batman For Help'

Marseille residents have called on Batman for help after a recent surge in violent crime.

The mock online petition and Facebook page, entitled Will It Take Batman To Save Marseille?, comes after a pensioner was shot dead last week trying to stop a robbery.

Jacques Blondel, 61, knocked the robbers over with his car and confronted them with a baseball bat and pepper spray after they held up a tobacconist.

He tried to reason with them and grabbed for their gun but was shot in the thigh and stomach.

France's second biggest city has also seen 13 gang-related killings this year, many thought to be linked to the drugs trade.

Police at the scene of a Marseille shooting in March

Criminal gangs are increasingly using heavy duty weapons such as AK-47 assault rifles, thought to arrive in the city through its Mediterranean sea port.

Two murders earlier this month also saw an 18-year-old stabbed in the chest during a fight outside a nightclub and a 25-year-old man shot in his car by men on a motorbike.

The government has said it is sending in 130 extra riot police - who will be patrolling the city by the end of the month - as well as 24 more detectives.

But many residents of the southern city are critical of that response and say politicians are not doing enough.

The city's ritzy Old Port area masks a serious problem with violent crime

"Today finished the soundbites and rhetoric ... The city needs action!" says the petition.

"Or are we preparing to always call more police and army ... then Batman!"

The petition calls for a more inclusive approach involving Marseille community groups and the government working around a "common vision".

Marseille, a European Capital of Culture for 2013, has high unemployment and levels of poverty, with critics saying the large immigrant population has been marginalised and alienated.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dale Cregan: Police Killer 'On Hunger Strike'

Convicted police killer Dale Cregan is reportedly on a hunger strike in a protest against being kept apart from other inmates.

The 30-year-old is serving a whole life sentence at HMP Full Sutton after being jailed in June for four murders.

Cregan gunned down unarmed policewomen Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, after luring them to a house last September.

He also killed father and son David and Mark Short in twin attacks earlier in 2012.

Cregan killed PCs Fiona Bone (L) and Nicola Hughes

Cregan is said to have started refusing food after the prison turned down his request to mix with other inmates, according to the Manchester Evening News.

One-eyed Cregan is also understood to be unhappy being at the Yorkshire prison and wants a move to Strangeways so he can be closer to family.

Cregan has been segregated from other inmates because of concerns over his safety as reports suggest there is an underworld reward of £20,000 for anyone who damages his remaining eye.

Cregan is serving a whole life sentence at HMP Full Sutton

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson could not confirm or deny the reports.

In a statement to Sky News, the spokesperson said: "We do not comment on individuals.

"We take food refusal extremely seriously. If a prisoner chooses to refuse food for any reason, the Prison Service works with healthcare staff to monitor their physical and mental health.

"Prisoners who are considered mentally capable are entitled to refuse health interventions, provided they fully understand the consequences of their decision."

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gareth Bale: Real Madrid Bid Has Mystery Rival

By Paul Kelso, Sports Correspondent

Gareth Bale's future could remain undecided until the final hours of the transfer window, with Tottenham yet to accept Real Madrid's offer and understood to be considering a rival bid to the Spanish club's world-record £86m.

The winger had been expected to complete his anticipated move early this week, but sources on all sides say no deal has been finalised, and that barring sudden progress, an announcement is "unlikely" in the next 24 hours.

Bale spent the weekend at a villa in southern Spain but flew back to the UK on Monday and will return to training at Tottenham on Tuesday unless a transfer is confirmed.

The identity of the club behind the rival offer remains unclear but sources close to Manchester United and Chelsea, two of the domestic clubs with the financial firepower to consider a bid, distanced themselves from the issue.

Tottenham will hope that the prospect of competition will force Madrid to meet the exacting terms set out by chairman Daniel Levy.

The 24-year-old was in sensational form for Spurs last season

While Bale is determined to join Real, Levy is only willing to sell reluctantly, and on terms advantageous to his club.

The Tottenham chairman is thought to be willing to wait until the very end of the transfer window,  Monday September 2, before a final decision.

As well as allowing Spurs time to work on transfer business, they will be able to assess their position after Sunday's north London derby against key rivals Arsenal.

Progress on the Bale deal has been slowed by increasing ill-feeling between Spurs and Madrid, with Tottenham understood to be infuriated at what they perceive as arrogance on the Spanish club's part.

Bale merchandise is being sold off cheap by traders at White Hart Lane

Real Madrid have made no secret of their belief a deal is imminent, selling Bale shirts on the club website and erecting a stage inside the Santiago Bernabéu stadium last week for an anticipated presentation ceremony.

Spurs are also determined to complete their planned transfer dealings before agreeing to Bale's departure, not least to avoid paying a premium for their new players.

Levy has made it clear that he will not agree a deal that leaves Tottenham weaker, and has spent more than £50m already this summer, bringing in four players including club-record signing Roberto Soldado.

Spurs ars said to be infuriated at the 'arrogance' of the Bernabéu club

An attempt to sign Brazilian Willian was gazumped by a £30m counter-offer from Chelsea last week, and Spurs want to bring in a defender, expected to be Romanian Vlad Chiriches, and at least one more attacking player before agreeing to Bale's departure.

Tottenham are also reluctant to accept a deal with a relatively small up-front payment and the rest staggered over the full term of Bale's proposed six-year contract.

Spurs, who still harbour doubts about Real's ability to fund the huge purchase, would prefer a significant part of the transfer up-front to help finance summer spending.

If, as still seems likely, Bale still does move to Madrid, Tottenham's chairman is determined to ensure that it is on his terms.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Syria: UN Inspectors 'Shot At By Snipers'

Prime Minister David Cameron will decide tomorrow whether to recall Parliament to discuss the possibility of military action against Syria, Downing Street has said.

The announcement came after UN weapons inspectors investigating an alleged chemical attack in Damascus were shot at by snipers.

The team's lead vehicle was "deliberately shot at multiple times" as they left a government checkpoint during a visit to part of the city where hundreds of people were allegedly killed, Martin Nesirky told Sky News.

The UN's Angela Kane leaves the inspectors' hotel in Damascus

None of the inspectors, who were dressed in body armour, are believed to have been injured in the attack, which came after two mortar bombs landed close to their hotel.

"The inspectors are determined to carry out the mission they are mandated to carry out," Mr Nesirky said.

"But it's obvious that all sides need to extend their co-operation so they can conduct this work safely."

Mr Nesirky said it was not clear who was responsible for the sniper attack, although Bashar al Assad's regime blamed the mortar fire on rebel fighters.

After the shooting, the UN inspectors were able to change vehicles and meet victims of the alleged chemical attack, taking samples for testing before returning to their hotel in Damascus.

UN inspectors speak to medics shortly after their convoy was attacked

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon did not blame either side for the convoy attack but said he had told his disarmament chief Angela Kane to make a "strong complaint" to the Syrian government.

The Assad regime said the inspections in Zamalka and Ein Tarma districts will prove allegations that chemical weapons were used against civilians, including children, were "lies".

The opposition claimed 1,300 people were killed, while Doctors Without Borders said 355 people died in hospital from "neurotoxic" symptoms.

Mr Ban said the people of Syria deserved to know the truth, adding: "We cannot allow impunity in what appears to be a grave crime against humanity."

The international community continues to consider its response to the crisis, with the Foreign Secretary warning military action may be the only remaining option.

Doctors Without Borders said 355 people died in the alleged attack

Hopes of a peace conference in Geneva appear to be receding, with sources in the Syrian opposition telling Reuters the talks are "off the table" after the alleged chemical attack.

William Hague said Britain and other countries could respond to the alleged attack without the unanimous backing of the UN, telling the BBC: "Otherwise it might be impossible to respond to such outrages, such crimes."

His comments came as David Cameron announced he was cutting short his holiday to chair a meeting of the UK's National Security Committee, which is expected to take place on Wednesday.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has cancelled a planned trip to visit British troops in Afghanistan so he can attend the meeting.

Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander urged the Prime Minister to recall Parliament to "make his case in advance of a decision being made".

A Downing Street spokesman insisted no decisions had been taken on military action and said there was no clear timetable.

Bashar al Assad denied his regime had used chemical weapons

Meanwhile, French politicians are preparing to meet "in the coming days" to decide whether to respond with force, according to the country's foreign minister Laurent Fabius.

There is mounting speculation that France, together with Britain and the US, could back limited airstrikes to demonstrate that deployment of chemical weapons will not be tolerated.

However, Mr Assad said military intervention by the US would fail.

"Failure awaits the United States as in all previous wars it has unleashed," the Syrian president said in an interview with Russian newspaper Izvestia.

Describing the chemical weapons accusations as "nonsense", Mr Assad added: "Would any state use chemical or any other weapons of mass destruction in a place where its own forces are concentrated? That would go against elementary logic.

"Accusations of this kind are entirely political and the reason for them is the government forces' series of victories over the terrorists."

Mr Assad received backing from two of his main allies, with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warning that the use of force without a UN mandate would violate international law.

Urging the West not to go down a "dangerous path", he said: "If anybody thinks that bombing and destroying the Syrian military infrastructure, and leaving the battlefield for the opponents of the regime to win, would end everything - that is an illusion."

Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed countries outside the Middle East for the turmoil and said states in the region backing the Syrian opposition would be damaged by the conflict.

"The main reason behind the status quo in the region is interference from outside the region," the state news agency Fars quoted Khamenei as saying in a meeting with Oman's Sultan Qaboos.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Kilburn Shooting: Police Arrest Second Man

A second man has been arrested over the killing of a 24-year-old woman shot dead as she celebrated her 24th birthday.

Sabrina Moss, from Neasden in northwest London, died in hospital after being involved in a double shooting.

Police said she was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time while out with friends.

Another 24-year-old woman remains in hospital. Her condition has been described as critical but stable.

Police investigate the double shooting in Kilburn

Detective Chief Inspector John Sandlin of the Metropolitan Police said: "Enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances of this tragic incident.

"At this early stage, I believe the two women were innocent parties who were caught in the wrong place at the wrong time."

The family of Ms Moss visited the scene of the shooting on Sunday with flowers, which officers placed inside a police cordon.

The second man is being held at a north London police station, and the first remains in custody, Scotland Yard said.

Police lay flowers at the scene of the shooting

Police were called at 4.12am yesterday to reports of shots fired in the street in Kilburn High Road, Kilburn, north-west London, at the junction with Messina Avenue.

Police and the London Ambulance Service found two women suffering gunshot injuries and both were taken to London hospitals.

Ms Moss was later pronounced dead.

Mr Sandlin said: "I am appealing for anyone who witnessed the shooting, or who saw anything suspicious in the Kilburn area, to call police.

"In particular, I need to hear from anyone who saw two males who came into the High Road from Messina Avenue and, after the shooting, made off on foot back along Messina Avenue."

Officers were called to the scene after reports of gunshots

The second suspect to be arrested is being held at a north London police station, while the first also remains in custody, police said.

Tributes to Ms Moss flooded onto social networking site Twitter, with many of her friends reporting that she had a young child.

Adjei Adu wrote: "My heart goes out to her family and the lil one she's left behind, sleep well Sabrina Moss."

Leila Hassan tweeted: "My Thoughts Are With Your Family... A Beautiful Young Woman, Mother and Daughter!"

Another tweet read: "Lost the cousin I was close with when I was a child.. R.I.P Sabrina Moss."

Anyone with information that might assist the investigation was asked to call the incident room at Hendon on 020 8358 0300. To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Earthquakes In Irish Sea Shake North West

The British Geological Survey has recorded two earthquakes in the North West, with residents of Blackpool, Fleetwood and Barrow saying they felt their homes shaking.

The first of the two quakes had a 2.4 magnitude. It was reported at 5.37am at a depth of 3km (1.8 miles), 25km (15 miles) west of Fleetwood.

The second one measured magnitude 3.3. It was recorded at 9.58am at a depth of 5km (3 miles).

The BGS chart records the two tremors

Local residents said on social media sites that they had felt a tremor.

"Just had an earthquake in Blackpool anyone else feel it our breakfast room shook wooooo adrenaline rush !" the Sandgate hotel in  Blackpool posted.

@Kirstenkat wrote: "Earthquake in Blackpool area this morning not quite what I expected from a quiet Sunday."

@Samcornwell posted a photo of a fallen chair and quipped: "Blackpool earthquake! We will rebuild!"

Pic: @Samcornwell

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Fracking tests in Lancashire have been blamed for some previous tremors in the area.

A quake at Preese Hall near Blackpool, Lancashire, last April had a magnitude of 2.3.

A study by experts at Durham University found in April that fracking operations were "not significant" in causing earthquakes.

The controversial process involves pumping a mixture of water and chemicals underground to deliberately crack sedimentary rock and extract oil and gas.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Video: Children Saved From Sinking Car In Essex

A woman who helped save several people trapped in a sinking car has told Sky News she knew she had to act quickly after realising there were three children trapped in the vehicle.

Hannah King, 22, and her friend Emma Burles, 26, pulled the children - aged four, six and eight - to safety after the Mitsubishi 4x4 got stuck driving through deep water under a railway bridge in Hockley, Essex.

"As soon as it went in, the water took it," Ms King told Sky News

"When it started sinking we could see there were kids in there and knew we had to get them out."

Dramatic footage filmed by a bystander shows the two women passing the children to a group of local boys who led them to safety.

Scott Swinford, who was driving the car with eight-year-old son Reece, his niece Jessica and nephew Alfie inside, said he thought his "monster truck" type vehicle could make it through the water.

But after finding himself in difficulty and trying to reverse out the vehicle was taken by the current and the wheels lost traction.

Ms King said the children were already up to their knees in water when she started to pull them out.

"The little girl was most scared I think. I couldn't get her seatbelt off at first, but they were okay once they were inside," she said.

Video footage of the rescue shows the vehicle largely submerged moments after the children were taken to safety.

After the children were taken inside to dry off, a police scuba team arrived at the scene believing people might still be trapped, Ms King said.

A user comment below the video of the rescue on Youtube said: "I would like to say a very very big thank you to all the people that helped rescue my Grandchildren & my Son-In-Law you were all brilliant thank you all again from the bottom of my heart you all done a fantastic job xxxxxx."

Heavy rain caused a number of roads to be flooded in Essex on Saturday and the fire service received more than 300 calls overnight.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Syria Allows UN Visit To Chemical Attack Site

United Nations weapons experts will visit the site of an alleged poison gas attack in Syria to conduct investigations on Monday.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's office has said in a statement that Syria has promised to observe a ceasefire at the site in the suburbs of Damascus while the team begins "on-site fact-finding activities".

The UN experts arrived in Damascus three days before a mass poisoning killed several hundred people on Wednesday.

The announcement comes after Syria warned the US against taking military action against the regime, saying it would "create a ball of fire that will inflame the Middle East".

Prime Minister David Cameron and President Barack Obama say they are "gravely concerned" about signs that an alleged chemical weapons attack took place in Syria.

The two leaders spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper by telephone last night as calls increased for UN investigators to be allowed access to the site of the alleged attack.

Doctors Without Borders has said 355 people died in the attack

Mr Cameron also spoke to France's President Francois Hollande on Sunday to discuss the crisis in Syria.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "In a telephone call this morning, the Prime Minister and President Hollande reiterated their strong condemnation of the attack that took place in Damascus on Wednesday.

"They agreed that the failure of the regime to grant UN investigators immediate access to the area was extremely worrying and demonstrated that the regime was hiding the facts and evidence."

The US President and his top advisers are continuing to explore options for responding to the attack, with the White House saying there is "very little doubt" the regime has used chemical weapons against its citizens.

But in remarks released by Syria's official SANA news agency, Syrian Information Minister Omran Zoabi said that any US-led military action would be "no picnic".

The attacks took place in the Damascus suburbs of Zamalka and Ein Tarma

"US military intervention will create a very serious fallout and a ball of fire that will inflame the Middle East," Mr Zoabi said.

Iran has also warned the US not to cross the "red line" on Syria, saying it would have "severe consequences", according to the Fars news agency.

Meanwhile, the al Qaeda-linked Syrian jihadist group Al Nusra Front has also vowed to carry out strikes against villages from Assad's community as revenge for the chemical attacks.

"The Alawite villages will pay the price for each chemical rocket that struck our people in Damascus," Al Nusra front chief Abu Mohammed al Jawlani said in an audio message posted on his Twitter account.

Mr Jazayeri was reacting to statements made by Western officials regarding the possibility of military intervention in Syria, according to Fars.

Earlier, Iranian Press TV reported that Damascus had told Tehran it would allow inspectors to visit the site of the alleged chemical attack.

A boy recovers after the alleged toxic gas attack on Wednesday

US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said the American military is ready to exercise "options" on Syria should force be called for, but he declined to say what that action might be.

He is under mounting pressure to act over the alleged use of chemical weapons, which humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders said had killed 355 people due to "neurotoxic" symptoms.

The group says it has treated more than 3,500 people showing symptoms of exposure to a "neurotoxic" agent.

Christopher Stokes from the charity told Sky News: "The situation (on the ground in Syria) is quite confusing.

"We've spent the last three to four days in contact with Syrian doctors that we've been working with for six months in and around Damascus to try and piece together what happened last Wednesday.

"Basically what they've reported to us are consistent signs of the same symptoms across a large number of patients that would indicate a large scale exposure to a neurotoxic agent."

Rebel groups have claimed the attack was carried out by Assad's forces and that more than 1,000 people had died. The Syrian regime has denied the allegations.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More