Missing Boy Mikaeel Kular: Possible Sighting

Police say there has been a possible sighting of missing three-year-old Mikaeel Kular, not far from his Edinburgh home.

Members of the public reported seeing a boy at West Pilton Gardens at around 8.30am yesterday and although the timing of the sighting has been confirmed by CCTV images, these cannot confirm the identity of the child.

Hundreds of police officers from across the UK have joined the search for Mikaeel, who vanished after he was put to bed by his mother at around 9pm on Wednesday.

:: Live Updates: Search For Missing Mikaeel Kular

The boy was spotted about half a mile from his home in Ferry Gait Crescent

Lines of volunteers have swept the local area, searching for clues about his disappearance, while a hotline dedicated to finding the youngster has received around 150 calls so far.

Superintendent Liz McAnish, of Police Scotland, said a boy had been seeing running towards the junction with West Pilton Park by people in a car.

"They noticed him because he was small in build and alone at the time," she said.

Motorists have been urged to be on their guard

She went on to say that although the boy matched the description of Mikaeel, he was wearing a cap or hat at the time of the sighting.

The missing youngster does not like wearing headgear and no such items of clothing have been reported missing from his home.

Supt McAnish said: "We would ask anyone who also saw this child to contact us as a matter of urgency. We need to confirm if this was Mikaeel or if it was another child.

Mikaeel went missing overnight on Wednesday

"If it is your child who was out at this time and in this location, we want to hear from you so we can eliminate this line of inquiry as swiftly as possible."

She said she remained "optimistic" about finding Mikaeel but warned: "As time passes, we become deeply concerned."

Sky News correspondent Gerard Tubb said a friend of Mikaeel's mother had described her as a "fantastic mum" who would do anything for her children.

Police have released a photograph showing the jacket he was wearing

Supt McAnish said all of the boy's family, including his father, have been helpful to the police, adding: "No-one is detained, no-one is a suspect and we have no evidence of any criminality."

Some investigators have said it would have been "practically impossible" for Mikaeel to have left the house alone and suspect a professional abduction.

A police helicopter, sniffer dogs and coastguard and lifeboat teams have been searching the area surrounding the flat he shares with four siblings in Ferry Gait Crescent.

Forensic teams are examining a second address in a block of flats near his home and officers have urged neighbours to check gardens, sheds, parks and lock-ups.

Overnight temperatures in Edinburgh dropped to around 3C, raising fears for Mikaeel's well-being.

David Cowin, a volunteer who joined the search, said: "At times like this you just want to help as much as you can."

Police Scotland has activated the Child Rescue Alert system, which is usually reserved for abduction and kidnap cases and supported by all police forces across the UK.

Hundreds of volunteers are helping in the search

The search remains focused around the Drylaw, Pennywell, Muirhouse and Silverknowes areas of Edinburgh, although other forces are also involved.

Mikaeel, who has two sisters and two brothers, was discovered missing from his bedroom when his mother went to wake him at around 7.15am on Thursday.

He usually sleeps in the same room as his twin sister but was alone on Wednesday night.

The boy spotted running down the street was wearing a cap or hat

His jacket and shoes were missing and police are looking into whether he might have left of his own accord.

Mikaeel is slim, 2ft, of Asian appearance and possibly wearing a thigh-length beige hooded coat.

He may also be wearing black gloves with multi-coloured fingers, dark navy blue jogging bottoms, a grey pyjama top with an embroidered turquoise dinosaur on the chest and brown Clarks shoes.

Forensic officers at the boy's home in Ferry Gait Crescent

He has a faded scar on the bridge of his nose and a sore on the left hand side of his mouth.

Anyone with information can call the missing person hotline on 0300 200 0200 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Mikaeel Kular: Mothers Pull Together For Boy

By Kat Storr, Sky Producer, In Edinburgh

The area where missing Mikaeel Kular lives has not been described as "close-knit", but it is clear that everyone is united in their hopes for finding him.

Hundreds of volunteers attended a police briefing on the search for the missing three-year-old boy.

They were of all ages, on their own or with friends and family - and all bundled up in their warmest clothes.

But it was the many groups of mothers, with and without their children, who stood out most.

They empathised with how Mikaeel's mother "must be going mad". "Imagine if it was Jack," one asked her friend.

Mikaeel's family reportedly keep themselves to themselves, but as one woman said: "A community comes together in a crisis."

The search for Mikaeel has entered a second day

Her friend said: "I'd just like to think that if it was me, everyone would do the same."

One lady welled up with tears and could say nothing except that she felt "speechless" after finding out the news.

Mother and daughter Yvonne Bostock and Camilla Willett live in a neighbouring street and felt they had to do their bit.

"The more that get out there, the more chance you have of finding the little boy," Mrs Bostock said.

Mrs Willett said: "It must be horrendous what the family is going through."

After the briefing they set off to search gardens, hedgerows and any other area where a small boy could be seeking shelter.

As they walked off, two women's last words to me were: "We just hope we get some good news in this unimaginable situation."

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Soldier Sentenced After Killing Baby Daughter

A soldier who killed his 20-month-old daughter after surviving an attack in Afghanistan has been jailed for six years.

Lance Corporal Liam Culverhouse admitted causing the death of Khloe Abrams at an earlier hearing.

The Grenadier Guardsman was given a medical discharge from the Army after losing his right eye in an attack at an Afghan National Police checkpoint in Helmand Province in 2009.

Five of his colleagues were killed in the attack.

Sentencing Culverhouse at Northampton Crown Court, judge Jeremy Baker said it was clear the defendant had been suffering post traumatic stress disorder because of his ordeal in Afghanistan.

But that did not diminish the fact he had caused the death of his daughter, Mr Baker said.

"No one who has understood what happened to you in November 2009 whilst serving as a member of the British Army in Afghanistan can have anything but profound sympathy for the effect which it had upon you.

"Not only will you have to live with the physical symptoms including blindness in your right eye, but it is clear that the trauma of that and of witnessing the death of a number of your fellow soldiers has caused you to suffer from significant psychological damage, including post traumatic stress disorder".

But the judge added: "As I have said, I accept that the effects of your mental condition contributed to your treatment of your daughter.

"However, you acknowledged to police and others that, prior to your experiences in Afghanistan, you had always had a temper which manifested itself in other circumstances."

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Valerie Graves Killing: Hammer May Be Weapon

Police investigating the murder of a grandmother have appealed for information about a hammer that officers have found.

The hammer, which is about 30cm long and has a distinctive red and black handle, may have been used to kill Valerie Graves.

It was found by detectives in the same West Sussex village where she was murdered as police try to find out its origins.

The discovery came just hours after a 22-year-old man arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of killing Ms Graves was released on bail.

The 55-year-old artist was murdered as she house-sat with her mother, sister and her sister's partner while the owners were abroad on holiday over Christmas.

Ms Graves was found dead by one of her relatives in a ground-floor bedroom at a waterside property in Bosham, near Chichester, on December 30.

The hammer is embossed with the words Forge Steel, with a picture of an outline of an anvil.

Detective Superintendent Nick May, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: "We need to know the origins of this hammer. Do you recognise it?

"We need people to check if they have lost such a hammer or had one stolen in the period leading up to the murder.

"We would also ask police officers, prison staff, probation officers and professionals who work in mental health, if they have dealt with anyone who has talked about causing someone harm with a hammer, to let us know."

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12 Years A Slave Wins Oscar Nod For Best Film

American Hustle and Gravity lead Oscar nominations with 10 nods each, while 12 Years A Slave got nine.

All three movies were nominated for best picture. 

Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, Her, Nebraska, The Wolf of Wall Street and Philomena also got a nod for best movie.

The nominations were announced by actor Chris Hemsworth and Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs at a ceremony in Beverly Hills.

Directed by Briton Steve McQueen, 12 Years A Slave is based on the true story of a man from New York who is captured and sold into slavery in America's Deep South. 

It stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender, both nominated for best actor and best supporting actor respectively.

Steve McQueen directed 12 Years A Slave

McQueen was also named for best director.

The movie has already picked up 10 Bafta nominations and recently took the best movie drama title at the Golden Globes.

American Hustle won nods for Amy Adams and Christian Bale in lead roles and for Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence in the supporting actor category.

The Wolf Of Wall Street also won nominations for Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese.

Also nominated for best actor were Bruce Dern in Nebraska and Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club, which also earned Jared Leto a supporting actor nod for playing a transgender woman.

Along with Adams, Cate Blanchett was nominated for best actress for Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine, Sandra Bullock in Gravity, Judi Dench in Philomena, Meryl Streep in August: Osage County. 

Notable omissions included Tom Hanks for his lead performance in Captain Phillips, and Robert Redford for the shipwreck drama All Is Lost.

The nominations for best foreign-language movie are: The Broken Circle Breakdown from Belgium, The Great Beauty from Italy, Danish thriller The Hunt, The Missing Picture from Cambodia, and Palestinian movie Omar.

The Oscars are handed out on March 2 in a ceremony hosted by comedian Ellen DeGeneres in Los Angeles.

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Trigger Of Only Fools And Horses Dies

Roger Lloyd-Pack: Trigger's Funniest Lines

Updated: 2:11pm UK, Thursday 16 January 2014

Following the death of actor Roger Lloyd-Pack, here are some of his best lines as Trigger in Only Fools And Horses, and as Owen Newitt in The Vicar Of Dibley.

In Only Fools And Horses:

:: Denzil: You ever thought of getting married, Trig?

Trigger: No, I haven't met the right person yet, but I've always had this sort of image of my perfect woman, sort of my dream girl.

Denzil: What's she like?

Trigger: Oh she's nothing to look at, very plain, little scar on her chin where she had a wart removed.

:: Trigger: You knew my Grandad Arthur, didn't you, Mr Trotter?

Grandad: Yeah, I knew Arthur alright.

Trigger: He was a smashing man, he took care of me when my mum went.

Rodney: Where was your Dad?

Trigger: He died a couple of years before I was born.

:: Mike: So?

Trigger: What?

Mike: What name have they decided on?

Trigger: If it's a girl they're calling it Sigourney after an actress, and if it's a boy they're naming him Rodney, after Dave.

:: Trigger: What you up to, Dave?

Rodney: I'm listening to Mozart's Concerto No.5 in D-Minor.

Trigger: No words to this song Dave?

Rodney: No Trigger, it's an instrumental.

Del Boy: All right, Trigger? What you doing?

Trigger: I'm listening to Mozart's Concerto No.5 in D-Minor.

Del Boy: Okay.

Trigger: It's the karaoke version.

:: Trigger: Problems, Dave?

Rodney: I don't want to talk about it, Trig. You ever been wrongly accused of something?

Trigger: Yeah, once.

Rodney: Yeah, how did you get out of it?

Trigger: Well I didn't - I was guilty.

In The Vicar Of Dibley:

:: Owen Newitt: He's as doomed as a virgin on a date with Rod Stewart.

:: Geraldine: What's worse than not selling any tickets at all?

Owen Newitt: Well, selling one ticket. But selling it to a serial killer.

:: Owen Newitt: You're a tit short of an udder, you are.

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David Jason Leads Tributes To Trigger

'Trigger' Of Only Fools And Horses Has Died

Updated: 1:53pm UK, Thursday 16 January 2014

Actor Roger Lloyd-Pack, who played Trigger in Only Fools And Horses, has died aged 69, according to his agent.

He was best known for his role in the long-running hit comedy series alongside David Jason as the dopey road-sweeper.

His agent, Maureen Vincent, said he had pancreatic cancer and had "died at home surrounded by his family".

Lloyd-Pack appeared in dozens of films and TV shows including Dr Who, and The Vicar Of Dibley.

His film roles included Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire.

Only Fools And Horses is due to return for a special one-off episode for Sport Relief in March.

It is believed the script has been written but it is not known if filming has begun.

The episode was due to feature Lloyd-Pack.

Lloyd-Pack was involved in one of the most memorable and classic scenes from the long-running comedy when he and Del Boy go to a wine bar.

Describing him as a fine actor, Sir David Jason said: "I was very saddened to hear of Roger's passing.

"He was a very quiet, kind and unassuming actor who was a pleasure to work with.

"Although he played the simple soul of Trigger in Only Fools And Horses, he was a very intelligent man and a very fine actor capable of many roles.

"I shall remember him with fondness and for all the good times we had together."

John Challis, best known as Boycie in Only Fools, said: "I spoke to Roger two days ago. Roger said it was a bit awkward to talk at that particular moment.

"It is very sad and very distressing.

"My thoughts are with his family. He was a remarkable man and he'll be missed. Roger is irreplaceable. It's a very sorry day."

Lloyd-Pack was born in 1944 into an acting family in north London, and his father Charles was a regular in Hammer horror films.

The father of four was also a successful stage actor, appearing regularly at Shakespeare's Globe in central London, but acknowledged that he would always be best known as Trigger.

His daughter Emily Lloyd is an actress best known for her appearances in Wish You Were Here, In Country and A River Runs Through It.

The actor, who was fluent in German, Italian, and French, was also politically active and a prominent campaigner for left-wing causes.

An avid supporter of Tottenham Hotspur, he sometimes gave interviews on the touchline at White Hart Lane.

The club tweeted: "We're saddened to learn of the death of Spurs fan Roger Lloyd-Pack. The Club extends our condolences to his friends and family."

Lloyd-Pack's daughter Emily shot to fame in the 1987 film Wish You Were Here before stepping back from the celebrity limelight after struggling with health issues.

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Missing Edinburgh Boy: Mother 'Distraught'

Detectives investigating the disappearance of a three-year-old boy in Edinburgh are now examining a second address in the city.

Forensic police are collecting evidence at block of flats not far from the toddler's home.

Mikaeel Kular was last seen going to bed at 9pm on Wednesday night.

Police are making local inquiries in the area

His jacket and shoes are missing and so far there has been no evidence to suggest a crime has been committed.

His mother and four siblings - including a twin sister - were in the flat in Ferry Gait Crescent, in the Drylaw area, when he disappeared.

When his mother went to find him at around 7.15am, her son was missing.

Officers in a home

The little boy is described as 3ft tall and possibly wearing a beige hooded jacket, brown shoes and pyjamas.

Police also want to speak to anyone who may have been travelling through the Muirhouse and Pennywell areas this morning and may have seen the child walking on his own.

Coastguard and lifeboat crews are searching the shoreline in the Cramond and Drylaw areas close to Mikaeel's home.

Superintendent Liz McAinsh told a news conference: "I would ask local residents to think about their own homes, their gardens, their buckets, their outbuildings. Anywhere you think a three-year-old boy might be. Keep your eyes open in parks as well. 

Police dogs are also being used on the ground

"At this stage we're keeping an open mind. There is no evidence to suggest criminality at this moment but clearly we are keeping an open mind.

"We are using all the resources at our disposal to find this boy."

The superintendent expressed concern about the weather.

"It's cold, it's the middle of winter - we want to get Mikaeel home safely as quickly as we can.

"We know his jacket and shoes are missing from the house. We don't know yet what has happen to him, but him going for a wander is one line of enquiry we're following up.

"We have air support out, we have dog support, we have resources coming from all over Scotland.

"He's described as a friendly and playful wee boy. He has four brothers and sisters. He has a twin sister who I'm sure will now be wondering what's happened to her wee brother.

"We are following all lines of inquiry ... the family are being very helpful. As you can imagine, the mother is distraught and she just wants help in finding her child."

A poster has been issued to help find the three-year-old

She refused to comment on reports that there was a custody issue which Sky News Scotland Correspondent James Matthews had learned about "on the basis of chat in the locality".

He said: "There was no particular answer on that. It may be that she has devolved that particular matter to the team on the ground but she wasn't able to say yes or no, about speaking to the father."

The father is understood to be of Pakistani origin.

The area from where Mikaeel has gone missing

Neighbour Nicola Garrick said: "I just know him from passing him on the street with his mum and that ... happy wee boy ... beautiful wee boy ... always got a smile on his face, so it's obviously a shock to see that he's missing."

Earlier, Matthews said: "Police particularly want to know how he left the house. That is the main thrust of the inquiry at this very early stage.

"An urgent police appeal has gone out to anyone who may have any information to get in touch with them - anyone who remembers seeing a young boy matching the description of Mikaeel ... clearly time is of the essence."

Police have appealed for residents to check their homes and gardens

There had been police activity at a flat about half a mile away from Mikaeel's home address in Waterfront Gait in Granton.

But this was understood to be unconnected to the child's disappearance.

Former Scotland Yard detective Peter Bleksley told Sky News: "Police have already mobilised the air support unit, there will be dogs on the ground - or there certainly should be - they may be able to do tracking, that sort of thing.

"And they will also be making inquiries about local registered sex offenders - checking those addresses out, speaking to those people, as well as all the relatives and other people who are known to the child."

The block where it is believed the boy's family live

Chief Inspector Sara Buchanan said when the appeal was first launched: "We have currently got a large police presence within the Drylaw area as we conduct our enquiries to trace Mikaeel.

"We are keen to hear from anyone who remembers seeing a young boy matching his description since yesterday evening to contact police immediately.

"As part of our investigation we are also trying to determine how the child has left his home and anyone with information that can assist with these enquiries is also asked to get in touch."

Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Roache 'Attacked Victim In Men's Toilet'

By Nick Martin, Sky Correspondent

A young girl was left "bewildered" after being indecently assaulted by Coronation Street actor William Roache in the men's toilets of a television studio, a court has heard.

The alleged victim, now 63, is the first witness to give evidence in the trial of the 81-year-old actor, who denies five counts of indecent assault and two counts of rape.

The witness told the jury that, in May 1965 when she was 14, she and a friend travelled to the Granada Television studios in Manchester to sing in a talent competition.

But, after failing to progress in the audition, the witness told the court that the pair "went exploring".

"We went down corridors wandering about looking for anybody or anything of interest," she told Preston Crown Court.

A court heard Roache sent the alleged victim a signed photo of himself

She said they spotted William Roache and fellow actor Alan Rothwell, who played Ken Barlow's onscreen brother David, in a dressing room and they were invited inside.

"We were two excited young teenagers who had just failed an audition," she said.

The atmosphere was "quite chatty", she said. "We were full of our recent experiences and just excited to be in the company of a famous actor.

"We were probably a little taken a back and excited and flattered, I suppose, that they were actually talking to us and interested in what we were doing."

The court heard that the alleged victim and William Roache ended up alone in a corridor of the studio building.

The actor with members of his family

"He pulled me by my arm into another room. Not so as to cause any injury or harm just roughly, grabbed by arm.

"He opened another door and that turned out to be the men's toilets. I was pulled in. I was taken aback, wasn't quite sure why I was there. I was in the wrong place, I shouldn't have been there.

"The next thing I remember about that situation was I was standing with him."

She told the court that William Roache then carried out an indecent assault.

"It was outside my experience. I was shocked. I really didn't understand what was going on. The one thing I really understood was that I shouldn't have been in the gents.

"I was frightened of causing a fuss because we shouldn't have been there.

Mr Roache has always denied the allegations

"I think I was on autopilot, just following instructions. I was still bewildered by what had happened. I was a bit ashamed."

The girls then caught a bus and did not speak about what had happened.

"It was a relief that we had the audition to chat about. I was still trying to come to terms with what had happened."

The court heard how the girl wrote to William Roache.

One letter from Mr Roache in reply to the youngster read: "Thank you for your marvellous letter and the nice things you said in it. I am enclosing a photo which I hope you will like.

The actor is Coronation Street's longest-serving star

"I am away for three weeks now but I would like a letter from you waiting for me when I get back. Write to me when you start school again and tell me more. Love Bill xx"

The teenager was later invited to visit the Coronation Street set by Mr Roache including a visit to the soap's famous pub, the Rovers Return.

The court heard how Mr Roache then arranged to pick up the youngster in his car around the corner from the Granada Studios on Quay Street, Manchester.

They drove to the suburb of Heaton Chapel, the jury heard. 

She said the actor quizzed her about her level of sexual experience and "checked" her age, the jury heard.

"I remember being parked there and some of the conversation that we had.

"He said to me: 'I won't do it properly until you're 16.' I took it to mean sex, intercourse," she told the court. 

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Drug Gang 'Sells Cannabis To School Children'

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

Sky News has gained exclusive access to a drugs gang that supplies primary school-aged children with cannabis.

The boss of the south London firm claims the cannabis trade in Britain is "the biggest it has ever been" despite continued police efforts to disrupt the illegal trade.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the man in his twenties told Sky News he employs more than 30 workers.

He explained how they had at least three factories supplying people in south London and even claims he exports the class B drug to the Netherlands, Germany and Austria.

Cannabis is bagged up and prepared for distribution

The boss said: "We have a type of weed over here called 'English cheese'.

"It was created over here - in Amsterdam they don't have that so they try to create that but they just can't because it is what we make and that's what they want."

But it is his claim that dealers are peddling drugs to primary school-aged children in London that will shock many parents.

He said: "You've got doctors, police, solicitors, teachers, bus drivers - everyone does it .... young kids, school kids, even primary school kids."

The gang leader said he personally does not sell to children, but admitted that dealers who work with his organisation do.

He said: "I blame it on the TV, the media, rap, YouTube, like Miley Cyrus on TV it is a common thing - they see it as the cool thing to do.

"Instead of binge-drinking they'll go and have a smoke."

The singer Miley Cyrus recently appeared to light up a joint while on stage at the European MTV awards in Amsterdam.

The drugs boss spoke to Sky News because he believes the cannabis trade in the UK should be legalised.

He said: "It should be legal so we don't have to hide what we are doing.

"If you look at LA and California and how they legalised it for medical reasons and stuff and how the crime rate actually drops.

"They legalised and it's a calmer place out there."

The factory is full of cannabis-growing material bought from garden centres

Commander Steve Rodhouse, who heads the Metropolitan Police's gangs and organised crime division, said the cannabis trade in the UK "fuels crime, fuels violence and anti-social behaviour. This is a real problem on our streets".

He also said some reports tend to give the impression that gangs can operate without fear of being detected.

"That is just not the case," he added.

"We do thousands and thousands of search warrants every year in London. We arrest and charge hundreds of people for this crime."

The Home Office said over the last two years police forces have seized more than one million cannabis plants, keeping an estimated £200m worth of the drug off the streets.

The number of offences related to cannabis production rose from 14,982 in 2010/11 to 16,464 in 2011/12, according to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

The worker mentioned Miley Cyrus apparently lighting a joint in Amsterdam

An ACPO spokeswoman said: "Police forces and the National Crime Agency (NCA) are finding that these criminals are going to ever greater lengths to conceal their illicit activity because they know that across the country we are shutting down these farms on a daily basis."

Crime Prevention Minister Norman Baker told Sky News: "In the UK, cannabis is controlled as a class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and is listed in Schedule 1 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.

"Those who grow and supply cannabis face up to 14 years' imprisonment. Production of cannabis for personal use is also illegal.

"We are determined to bring the criminal gangs who trade in cannabis to justice. I am also leading a study of drugs policy in other countries, which will build on the commitment in the drug strategy to look at what we can learn from the approach taken abroad."

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Dave Lee Travis 'Put Hand Up Reporter's Skirt'

DJ Dave Lee Travis put his hand up the skirt of a radio colleague and tried to "put his thumb under her knicker elastic", a court has heard.

It came after he had previously touched the woman's breasts on a number of occasions, which had left her feeling "frozen, shocked and in denial".

The later incident, in the early 2000s, caused the local radio news reporter to "snap".

She said she screamed at Travis: "You are a pervert. How are you getting away with this? Why are you doing this?"

Southwark Crown Court heard that the pair had to be "pulled apart" before Travis said in the front of shocked colleagues: "I've never touched a woman inappropriately in my life."

Before that, she said that she and others had not told anyone about Travis' behaviour because "no one would believe us".

"We were young and frightened," she said.

She said Travis' reputation was such that female staff in the newsroom of her radio station would put their heads down and "pray that it wasn't them" when he came into room.

Travis, 68, whose real name is David Griffin, was in court having denied 13 counts of indecent assault and one of sexual assault.

The DJ was a presenter for various broadcasters, including the BBC, where he hosted the Radio 1 breakfast show and Top Of The Pops in the 1970s and 80s.

The court heard that, while at the BBC, he assaulted a fellow employee while she was on air during a broadcast.

His alleged victim, who was 26 at the time in the early 1980s, was about to introduce a radio programme when the DJ entered the studio.

She told the court that as she started to speak, Travis approached her from behind and went "right up behind" her.

"His arms were under my armpits and he put (his) hands on (my) breasts," she said.

The witness said: "(I was) frightened I was going to mess up the announcement."

The BBC employee said Travis' attitude and demeanour at the time "was that it was a joke, a prank".

If she had gone to management, she said she was sure they would have responded: "So what? You are a big girl. Deal with it."

"If I had reported it, it would have been a black mark by my name. (They would have thought I) can't take joke."

As a result, she said she could not recall talking to management about the incident.

The BBC witness added that, although she did not tell management about what happened, she did talk about it later as it was "useful" when speaking at conferences to "warn (people about the) sort of thing (women) might have to put up with".

She spoke to police in November 2012. Soon after, she told her husband what had happened, and then a journalist.

During cross examination, she denied embellishing her story. She said it was likely the incident would have been seen by any technician who was on duty, but could not remember the man's name.

The trial continues.

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Four Gang Members Convicted Of 18 Rapes

Two men and two teenage boys have been found guilty of a series of rapes and serious sexual offences against girls in Peterborough.

Zdeno Mirga, 18, was convicted of eight counts of rape and one count of inciting child prostitution by a jury at the Old Bailey.

Two boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were also convicted of various counts of rape and sexual assault.

Between them, Mirga and the two boys were convicted of 14 counts of rape.

Hassan Abdulla, 33, was found guilty of four counts of rape and two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Zdeno Mirga's brother Dusan, 20, and David Ziga, 19, and a teenage boy, were found not guilty.

The offences were alleged to have happened in Peterborough from April to December 2012.

Judge John Bevan QC gave a majority instruction to the jury.

Afterwards, Detective Superintendent Gary Ridgway said: "Today's convictions are part of the ongoing joint inquiry by Cambridgeshire Constabulary and Peterborough City Council's Children's social care to safeguard young people and bring offenders to justice.

"This case was entirely victim-led. We, along with Peterborough City Council Children's Services, identified young people who we believed were at risk of harm, engaged with them and, as a result, identified a number of people who were exploiting them.

"These girls were targeted simply because they were vulnerable.

"They were seen as easy targets and exploited by this group of teenage boys and young men who abused them for their own sexual gratification.

"The victims, who were as young as 12 years old, were subjected to horrific ordeals. But they have shown incredible strength throughout this process: in particular by giving evidence at court in order to bring these people to justice.

"We are committed to helping those girls pick up the pieces and move on with their lives.

"Our priority has always been, and remains, to safeguard young people.

"We will continue to work with the city council and other partner agencies to keep young people safe from harm."

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Rolf Harris Denies 12 Counts Of Indecent Assault

Rolf Harris has pleaded not guilty to indecently assaulting three girls aged between eight and 15, and a 19-year-old woman.

The painter, musician and TV entertainer arrived at Southwark Crown Court in London accompanied by his wife Alwen, who he was pushing in a wheelchair.

Harris, who was wearing a blue jacket, white shirt and red tie, has yet to be arraigned on four counts of making an indecent image of a child. This means the four charges have not yet been formally put to him in court.

He will stand trial on April 30, and made no comment to reporters as he left the courtroom.

The 83-year-old Australian is charged with 12 counts of indecent assault on four alleged victims.

He is accused of six counts of abusing a 15-year-old girl between April 5 1980 and April 4 1981.

Another count relates to a 19-year-old woman between January 1 1984 and January 1 1985, and three counts to a 14-year-old girl on May 31 1986.

Harris arrived at court wearing a blue jacket, white shirt and red tie

The last two counts relate to a girl of seven or eight between January 1 1968 and January 1 1970, and a 14-year-old girl between January 1 1975 and January 1 1976.

He was initially charged with nine counts of indecent assault in August last year. Last month, prosecutors confirmed they had added another three counts.

Harris, who was born in Perth, Western Australia, to Welsh parents, and moved to the UK in 1952, was arrested by officers working on Operation Yewtree.

The investigation was launched after the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal, but the allegations against Harris have no connection to the shamed DJ.

Harris, who has lived in the village of Bray, Berkshire, for the past 50 years, was released on conditional bail.

The conditions are that he does not contact prosecution witnesses, lives at his home address, and does not spend time with anyone under 18 without being accompanied by someone over 21.

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Cancer Increase 'Is Due To Ageing Population'

By Hind Hassan, Sky News Reporter

Nearly a third of a million people are diagnosed with cancer every year, according to a UK charity.

Some 330,000 people were diagnosed with some form of the disease in 2011 - an increase of almost 50,000 per year over a decade. Researchers say an ageing population is one of the reasons for the increase.

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An aging population is one reason for the increase

Jessica Kirby from Cancer Research UK said: "People's risk of cancer goes up significantly as we get older; the more older people we have in our population the more people will develop cancer.

"There are other reasons for the rise as well; changes in risk factors for example. We know that more and more people are overweight compared to the past which is one of the key factors for cancers."

But greater awareness, advanced technology and ongoing medical research means cancer is being detected earlier and those that have it are living longer.

Edward Scott believes an early diagnosis of testicular cancer saved his life. The 15-year-old discovered a lump last year and sought urgent advice.

"I went on the NHS website and I found all the symptoms for testicular cancer were symptoms that I had," he said.

"The same day I went to my mum and said 'Mum there is something really wrong, I have to go get this sorted out'.

"I went into the GP and the same day I found out I had cancer."

Cancer Research UK's chief executive Dr Harpal Kumar said: "These figures reinforce the vital need for more research to better prevent, treat and cure cancer.

"Research is the only way we'll be able to reduce the devastating impact of the disease. One day we will beat cancer. The more research we do, the sooner that day will come."

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Dave Lee Travis Was 'Opportunist' Court Told

DJ Dave Lee Travis, who is accused of a string of sex assaults, was an opportunist who preyed on vulnerable young women, a court has heard.

The 68-year-old carried out a series of assaults which were "sexual in nature" while working as a disc jockey, acting in pantomimes and even at the opening of a hospital radio station, a jury at Southwark Crown Court in London was told.

The former Radio 1 DJ, whose real name is David Patrick Griffin, is on trial accused of assaulting 11 women, one of whom was 15 at the time of the alleged crime.

He denies the charges.

Opening the Crown's case, prosecutor Miranda Moore QC said women had come forward from "all parts of the United Kingdom" with similar allegations against Travis.

The alleged assaults were carried out by Travis "in a work environment", including an appearance at the opening of a hospital radio station, Ms Moore said.

"The offences vary in gravity," she said.

"All are sexual in nature involving unwanted contact by this defendant on much younger women, both over clothing and under clothing," Ms Moore added.

Travis had been "opportunist" in targeting "young women who were very vulnerable", she said.

The court heard that Travis indecently assaulted a 19-year-old woman during a recording of Top Of The Pops.

The prosecution showed the jury a short clip of the TV show from 1978, in which it is alleged Travis is starting to assault the woman.

Ms Moore said: "The incident was actually cut from what was broadcast."

Another incident allegedly happened in 1978 at a Showaddywaddy concert on a farm in Gloucestershire.

During the alleged offence, a girl who was 15 at the time, was "pinned" to her seat, the jury was told.

"In her words, she thought he was going to rape her," said Ms Moore.

Travis is also accused of assaulting a woman working in the pantomime Aladdin in which he was appearing in Crawley, West Sussex, between November 1990 and January 1991.

He was playing the "evil wizard" Abanazar in the show.

The alleged victim reported the incident to a stage manager but it was decided she would not go to the police because Travis was a "star", the prosecutor said.

The theatre later decided that female workers should not be left alone with Travis during the show's run, Ms Moore added.

Travis denied assaulting the woman, describing the allegation as "utter nonsense" and telling police he would not have "jeopardised" his first pantomime role, the court heard.

Travis is charged with 13 counts of indecent assault dating between 1976 and 2003, and one count of sexual assault in 2008.

He was arrested under Scotland Yard's Operation Yewtree, which was prompted by abuse allegations involving the late Jimmy Savile, the court heard.

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Francois Hollande Faces Media Over Affair Claims

Hollande: Like The Others But Without Charisma

Updated: 12:20pm UK, Tuesday 14 January 2014

By Jason Farrell, Sky News Correspondent, in Paris

The whole thing is very French - the Actress and Le President. What's more, it is the one thing the French refuse to get angry about.

They'll bring Paris to a standstill over proposed changes to taxi laws - as happened on Monday - but it would be positively English to take issue with a two-timing head of state.

"It's private," is the most common response from Parisiennes asked about their President's alleged affair. The only question they seem to have is whether French taxpayers should be funding the lifestyle of the First Lady, Valerie Trierweiler, if she is no longer the President's girlfriend.

Francois Hollande must clarify, almost as if it were a cabinet decision, whether the First Lady will be reshuffled out, mid-term.

There is one other issue, however, which plays into Mr Hollande's general character. "He is as a man who can't commit," one Parisienne woman commented. "It's not good to be indecisive, if you are a President."

Mr Hollande never married his first long-term girlfriend, the politician Segolene Royal - herself a former presidential runner - with whom he had four children.

Despite moving Valerie Trierweiler into the Elysee palace there's been no suggestion of marriage since they got together in 2007.

While he spent Christmas with the First Lady and her family, under the cover of a moped helmet he was also allegedly sneaking one street away from the Elysee Palace to the appropriately named Rue du Cirque (Circus Road) for flings with French actress Julie Gayet.

"If he can't decide on his girlfriend, how can he make a decision on the economy?" ask his opponents. "And if the First Lady can't trust him can we?"

Up until now he has managed to convey a straight-laced image; a man who may have been failing to re-energise the French economy but his one endearing quality was his workmanlike approach to the job.

So if it turns out he's just like all the others, but without the charisma, what's left to like?

Political analyst Dominique Moisi said: "The fact is that this is the most unpopular president in the history of the Fifth Republic. He wanted to impress the French with the fact that he was a normal man, that he was a man of dignity, simplicity and moral rigour. And suddenly the French are discovering that he is like others, but in a less glorious manner, and really a more ridiculous manner.

"A president who has to hide under a helmet, driving with a bodyguard on a scooter to see his alleged mistress."

A sex scandal is the last thing France's president needs.

It has opened him to ridicule as well as dislike, and from now on he will forever be portrayed by cartoonists as a man wearing a helmet - with all the negative connotations that evokes.

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Ireland Chess Killer 'Ate Victim's Body Parts'

A lodger has admitted killing a man during a row over a game of chess - and is said to have eaten his victim's heart.

Saverio Bellante claimed to have eaten his landlord's organ after a violent argument.

But a post-mortem found that while one lung was missing, the heart was intact.

The examination found that a lung was removed from the body of researcher Tom O'Gorman, 39, during the attack and had not yet been located, the Irish Independent reported, citing an undisclosed source.

Mr O'Gorman's body was found with multiple stab wounds at his home in Beech Park Avenue, Castleknock, in north Dublin, where the accused had been living as a tenant. He had also been beaten several times over the head with a dumbbell.

Bellante, 34, originally from Palermo on the Italian island of Sicily, has been charged with murder.

The paper said it had not been possible to establish whether Mr O'Gorman was already dead before his body was mutilated.

Irish police were alerted to the killing when the accused, who was described as "calm," phoned emergency services at 1.50am on Sunday.

Bellante appeared before Blanchardstown District Court on Monday. Detective Garda Patrick Traynor told the court that Bellante admitted the murder when he was cautioned.

Judge David McHugh ordered that he undergo a medical assessment.

It is understood Mr O'Gorman was a former journalist with The Voice Today, a Roman Catholic newspaper.

A graduate of University College Dublin, he had more recently been a researcher with the Dublin-based Catholic lobby group the Iona Institute for seven years, and is believed to have taken in a lodger in recent months to help supplement his income.

David Quinn, director of The Iona Institute, said Mr O'Gorman's friends and colleagues were left devastated by his death.

"On behalf of everyone at The Iona Institute, I would like to express our total shock and deep sorrow at the terrible and untimely death of Tom O'Gorman," he said.

"Tom was a friend as well as a work colleague to us all. He was a fond and dear friend and we will all miss him.

It is not thought alcohol or drugs were involved in the incident.

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Southwest Airlines Flight Lands At Wrong Airport

A Southwest Airlines flight from Chicago is under investigation after it landed at the wrong airport seven miles from its intended destination.

Flight 4013, carrying 124 passengers and five crew members, was scheduled to fly from Chicago's Midway International Airport to Branson Airport, Missouri.

But the Boeing 737-700 landed at Taney County Airport instead, on a runway half the size of it proper destination.

It was unclear why the flight went to the wrong airport.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesman Tony Molinaro said an investigation has been launched.

Airline spokesman Brad Hawkins said: "The landing was uneventful, and all customers and crew are safe.

"Our ground crew from the Branson airport arrived at the airport to take care of our customers and their baggage."

Flight 4013 had been scheduled to go from Branson to Love Field in Dallas. Mr Hawkins said another aircraft was flown into Branson at 10pm on Sunday to take the passengers and crew to Dallas.

The runway at Taney County, also known as M. Graham Clark Airport, is 3,738ft. Branson Airport's website says its runway is 7,140ft long.

The Southwest plane is able to take off from Taney County and the company said it expected it to fly out "as early as tomorrow (Monday) morning".

It is the second time in two months that an aircraft has landed at the wrong airport.

In November, a Boeing 747 Dreamlifter which was supposed to deliver parts to McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas, landed nine miles north at Colonel James Jabara Airport.

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Madeleine McCann Police 'To Make Arrests'

British police are reportedly preparing the ground to make their first arrests in the hunt for Madeleine McCann.

Scotland Yard detectives flew out to Portugal on Sunday night to interview three burglars who were in the area when the three-year-old went missing, the Daily Mirror said.

Mobile phone records show the men made numerous calls to each other in the hours after she disappeared while on a family holiday in Praia da Luz in May 2007, it is claimed.

A spokeswoman for the Met Police confirmed the Crown Prosecution Service has sent an International Letter of Request to ­Portuguese authorities on behalf of the Metropolitan Police.

She declined to give details or discuss what the letter contained.

Madeleine's parents say the move 'could be a significant new lead'

A spokesman for Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, told the Mirror he believed it was likely the burglars were the targets.

"The letter is a significant development. It is necessary for British police to request the ­Portuguese authorities allow them to operate on their turf," he said.

"It means they have the intention of arresting and interviewing X, Y or Z. We don't know who they have their sights on but it's likely it is the burglars.

"Whether the Portuguese will co-operate remains to be seen. It is a very sensitive issue with differences they have had.

"Police want to be given a chance to arrest key suspects. It doesn't prove they have Madeleine but it will rule them in or out of the investigation and that is i­mportant.

"Kate and Gerry don't want to build up their hopes too high but they realise it could be a significant new lead."

The little girl vanished from this holiday apartment in May 2007

It would be Scotland Yard's first arrests since it set up Operation Grange in 2011 to review Madeleine's disappearance.

It is claimed that days before the little girl vanished, the gang raided another holiday flat in the Algarve resort, disturbing a child.

The ­youngster's parents reportedly interrupted the burglars who fled.

Madeleine vanished from her holiday apartment while her parents were dining in a tapas bar 90 yards away.

Portuguese police reopened their investigation last year, more than three years after it was shelved.

It is running in parallel with the Scotland Yard inquiry but the Met Police commissioner has called for the two forces to work together as one team.

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Fracking: Cameron Offers Councils Drill Money

David Cameron has announced £1.7m for councils which agree to drill for shale gas sparking angry protests from campaigners who say it amounts to little more than bribery.

David Cameron said the Government was "going all out for shale" as he announced local authorities that allow drilling will receive 100% of the business rates collected from the scheme - double the current 50%.

Whitehall officials estimate that could be worth £1.7m extra a year for each site a council agrees.

The announcement sparked angry scenes at a fracking site in Barton Moss, near Salford, Manchester, where protesters confronted lorries entering the plant, then handcuffed themselves to the vehicles.

Anti-fracking protester Theo Simon on top of a lorry at the site

About a hundred people have been living in tents and caravans at the spot near the M62 where IGas has been given permission to carry out exploratory drilling.  Most are local but others have travelled from various parts of the UK to join in.

The business rates money will be in addition to a promise last year that shale exploration firms will also pay out £100,000 when a test well is fracked and 1% of revenues, a deal which could in total be worth up to £10m.

However, campaigners dismissed the business rates payout as bribe money and said it was not enough in the face of the vast profits that stand to be made by the energy firms and the damage that would be caused to local areas.

Mr Cameron's announcement comes as the French energy giant Total has announced it will invest millions with a 40% interest in two shale gas exploration licences in the UK.

The protest was against an exploratory drilling site known as Barton Moss

Mr Cameron said: "A key part of our long-term economic plan to secure Britain's future is to back businesses with better infrastructure.

"That's why we're going all out for shale. It will mean more jobs and opportunities for people, and economic security for our country."

On a visit to Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, in the area Total will be looking to develop shale gas wells, the Prime Minister added: "We have the strongest environmental controls in this country. Nothing would go ahead if there were environmental dangers. I think people can be reassured by that.

"But I actually believe it's when these wells go ahead, when people start to see the benefit, when people see there aren't environmental concerns, they will see that it is quite right that this is part of our long-term economic plan."

Protesters handcuff themselves to a lorry at Barton Moss

Jackie Anderson, a teacher who lives within a mile of an exploratory drilling site at Barton Moss near Salford, was on Sunday protesting about the effects of fracking on the community.

She told Sky News: "For the local residents it's got no benefit whatsoever. More and more the businesses and the councils are going to benefit because the incentives are going to them and we're getting none of the benefits at all."

A Local Government Association spokesman said: "Given the significant tax breaks being proposed to drive forward the development of shale gas and the impact drilling will have on local communities, these areas should not be short-changed by fracking schemes.

"One per cent of gross revenues distributed locally is not good enough; returns should be more in line with payments across the rest of the world and be set at 10%."

Areas of the UK affected by fracking

Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, is a process that involves drilling thousands of feet down into the earth to create a narrow well. Water and chemicals are then pumped in at high pressure to create fractures in the rock. Gas then flows from the cracks and is captured.

Vanessa Vine, who founded the British Anti-Fracking Action Network, said: "Concerns of local residents range from everything from heavy traffic through villages, damage to the roads, right up to triggering of earthquakes and permanent, potentially permanent contamination of the groundwater, of the aquifer, of drinking water."

Fears have been raised over fracking

The Government estimates the industry could attract £3.7bn a year in investment and support 74,000 jobs.

Last year, a study by the British Geological Survey suggested there could be enough shale gas in the north of England to supply Britain for 40 years.

It is thought there may be as much as 1,300 trillion cubic feet at the Bowland site in Lancashire alone.

Energy minister Michael Fallon said he expected between 20 and 40 wells to be drilled over the next couple of years.

He told Sky News: "We know now that we are sitting on top of hundreds of millions more cubic feet of this gas than we originally thought. What's so important now is to encourage companies to go down there and find out whether we can get it out as a new, home-grown source of energy.  

"That is extremely important for every local community and what we are doing today is saying it is for that local people, who have some of the hassle when they are getting it out, when they are exploring for it, that they should be able to retain all of the benefits."

Lawrence Carter, from Greenpeace, said: "This is a naked attempt by the government to bribe hard-pressed councils into accepting fracking in their area.

Vanessa Vine, founder of the British Anti-Fracking Action Network

"Cameron is effectively telling councils to ignore the risks and threat of large-scale industrialisation in exchange for cold hard cash."

Shadow energy minister Tom Greatrex said: "Gas will remain an important part of our energy mix in the future, and if shale gas can replace our rapidly depleting North Sea reserves it could help improve our energy security.

"It is right that any communities that host nationally significant energy infrastructure are able to share in its rewards.

"But the Government must get its priorities right. Only by fully addressing legitimate environmental and safety concerns about fracking with robust regulation and comprehensive monitoring, will people have confidence that the exploration and possible extraction of shale gas is a safe and reliable source that can contribute to the UK's energy mix."

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Germany Plane Crash: 'Four Die' As Jet On Fire

Four people are believed to have died after a small jet flying from West Sussex crashed near an airfield in Germany.

The plane damaged an electricity pylon as it came down at a landfill site and was in flames when firefighters arrived at the scene near the western city of Trier.

Pictures from the scene apparently showed foam covering the aircraft after firefighters smothered the blaze.

A spokesman for Trier-Fohren airfield said the plane was travelling from Shoreham airport and all those who died were German.

The plane came down near the city of Trier

The plane, believed to be a Cessna Citation business jet, was carrying two pilots and two passengers.

It was not known what might have caused the tragedy but it was reportedly foggy at the time of the crash.

Police said a member of the public had called the emergency services and raised the alarm.

Experts were on their way to the scene to investigate how the crash happened, a spokesman said.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the reports and are urgently looking into them."

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Iraq: Government Rejects Torture Allegations

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

The Government says it "absolutely rejects" allegations of "systematic" abuse and torture by British soldiers in Iraq.

Foreign Secretary William Hague spoke to Sky News after it was revealed the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been asked to investigate hundreds of abuse allegations.

It is understood a German human rights organisation and a British law firm have presented a dossier to the ICC containing accusations of more than 1,000 cases of torture against Iraqi civilians, and 200 cases of unlawful killings, including many in custody.

The Berlin-based European Centre for Constitutional Rights and UK-based Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) will launch their case at an event in London on Tuesday.

Phil Shiner, a solicitor from PIL, told Sky News: "This is historic. The UK has never been investigated by the ICC. There is clear evidence this goes right to the top."

But speaking on the Murnaghan programme, Mr Hague said: "The Government has always been clear, and the armed forces have always been clear, that they absolutely reject allegations of systematic abuse by the British armed forces.

"The British armed forces uphold high standards, and they are the finest armed forces in the world."

He added: "But where there are substantiated allegations of things going wrong, these things have been or are being investigated. That does not require references to the International Criminal Court."

The Government has set up a body to investigate accusations of abuse arising from the Iraq conflict.

The Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) investigates allegations of abuse against Iraqi civilians by British troops between 2003 and 2009.

It is led by a retired detective and is due to complete its investigations by the end of 2016.

Commenting on the reports, the Ministry of Defence said: "These matters are either under thorough investigation or have been dealt with through various means including through the Iraq Historic Allegations Team, independent public inquiries, the UK and European courts and in Parliament.

"As such, further action through the ICC is unnecessary when the issues and allegations are already known to the UK Government, action is in hand and the UK courts have already issued judgments.

"Should we be approached by the ICC, we will take the opportunity to explain the very extensive work under way to deal with historic allegations of abuse.

"We reject the suggestion that the UK's Armed Forces - who operate in line with domestic and international law - have systematically tortured detainees.

"But of course the UK Government regrets the small number of cases where abuses have taken place. Wherever allegations have been substantiated, we have compensated victims and their families."

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Missing 12-Year-Olds Found Safe And Well

Police hunting for two 12-year-old girls who went missing in north London say they have been found safe and well.

Best friends Wiktoria Popiel and Vitalija Sidlauskaite were last seen in Wood Green at around 5pm on Saturday.

Wiktoria was walking Vitalija to a bus stop on Lordship Lane but did not return home.

Sky's Tom Parmenter was filming an interview with Vitalija's mother at her home in Tottenham when officers told her the good news.

Irina Versinina broke down in tears as they told her the two girls had been picked up near Euston station and were unharmed.

"This is good news, but how she can do like this?" she said, her eyes welling with tears. "Twenty four hours! Not call, not nothing. I can't believe that she can do like this.

"I have a lot of questions, but if she want to go to walk, she go to the garden to walk, because this is a very difficult situation."

She was then escorted away to be reunited with her daughter.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Police are pleased to report that Wiktoria Popiel and Vitalija Sidlauskaite have been found safe and well.

"We thank the media and the public for their assistance."

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Hollande 'Affair': First Lady In Hospital

The French first lady is being treated in hospital amid claims President Francois Hollande has been having an affair.

Valerie Trierweiler was in a hospital in Paris following revelations about an alleged affair between her partner, the French president, and an actress.

Valerie Trierweiler is undergoing tests in hospital

Aides to Ms Trierweiler said she had been admitted "for a rest and to undergo some tests" - and was expected to leave hospital on Monday. 

On Friday, Mr Hollande threatened to sue celebrity magazine Closer, complaining of breach of privacy after it alleged he was having an affair with Julie Gayet.

The aides said Ms Trierweiler was admitted to the hospital on Thursday, shortly after the news broke.

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