Written By Unknown on Senin, 06 April 2015 | 12.25
Police are hunting for a driver who left a 93-year-old woman lying in the middle of the road after a hit-and-run crash.
They have issued a CCTV image of the silver Chrysler Voyager thought to have struck Isobel Rawes in Shirley, West Midlands.
The pensioner is still in hospital being treated for the serious injuries she suffered.
Police said she was hit as she crossed Stratford Road at around 11.50am on 24 March.
A spokeswoman said: "The driver failed to stop at the scene and left the victim lying in the carriageway before driving away in the direction of the M42.
Police believe this car hit the 93-year-old
"Following extensive CCTV inquiries, police have identified the car as a silver-coloured Chrysler Voyager.
"It is believed that the vehicle will have damage to the front passenger side."
Sergeant Adam Green, from the Regional Collision Investigation Unit, said: "I would urge anyone that has seen a Chrysler Voyager with damage to the front passenger side to come forward.
"It may be that the driver has confided in a friend or family member or a neighbour has noticed recent damage.
"It is important that we speak to the driver in order to understand the reasons for the collision and the subsequent driving away from the scene to provide answers to the family of Mrs Rawes."
Anyone with information can contact the collision investigation unit on 101.
Written By Unknown on Minggu, 05 April 2015 | 12.25
The UK will get its first three proton beam therapy centres from next year in what experts say is a significant breakthrough for cancer treatment.
The first centre will be opened in Cardiff by local company Proton Partners International Ltd, with two others to follow in London and Northumberland by 2017.
The centres will be available for NHS patients from England, Scotland and Wales, as well as self-paying patients and those with private medical insurance.
Currently patients must head overseas for this type of treatment.
Life sciences entrepreneur Professor Sir Chris Evans says there are more than 150,000 people treated for cancer each year and that demand for treatment is growing.
Video:Ashya Finishes Proton Treatment
Health insurer Bupa has estimated that by 2021 the UK's ageing population is likely to see a 20% rise in the number of new cancers and a 62% rise in the cost of treatment - to £15.3bn.
Proton beam therapy is a targeted type of radiotherapy that can treat hard-to-reach cancers, such as spinal tumours, with a lower risk of damaging the surrounding tissue or causing side effects.
The announcement comes just weeks after the parents of brain cancer survivor Ashya King told how the five-year-old made a "miracle" recovery after receiving proton beam therapy in Prague in the Czech Republic.
Video:Sept: Inside The Proton Beam Centre
The treatment was not available for him on the NHS, although the health service later agreed to fund it.
Professor Gordon McVie, senior consultant at the European Institute of Oncology, who has been appointed chairman of Proton Partners International, says the development is "exciting and important".
He added: "As things stand, patients who can benefit from this treatment have to go abroad for treatment, often at great expense to the NHS.
Video:How Proton Beam Therapy Works
"The creation of these centres will go a long way to ensuring the very best of treatment is available in the UK."
A 1980s-style housing "revolution" doubling the number of first-time buyers by 2020 has been pledged by the Tories, if they are elected.
The plan would mean half a million people a year getting their feet on the housing ladder, George Osborne said.
Labour claims Britain's chronic housing shortage is being fuelled by Coalition schemes such as Help to Buy and no action is being taken to boost supply.
Ed Miliband's party unveiled plans on Saturday to take the new ISA scheme for first-time buyers announced in the Budget and use it to finance wide-scale house building.
But Mr Osborne told the Sunday Telegraph he was determined to push even harder to open home ownership to more people.
Video:Archive: House Building In Crisis
He said as many as one million people would enjoy direct government help to purchase properties over the next parliament.
"I think we can deliver a revolution in home ownership," the Chancellor told the newspaper.
"We want to see a massive increase in the number of people who can own their own home because home ownership is an absolutely core Conservative belief and aspiration that we support.
:: Track how the major parties are faring in the latest opinion polls with the Sky News poll of polls, which averages all the latest polls to get the overall picture.
"In the next parliament I would like to see over a million more people helped into home ownership by a Conservative government.
"I would like to see us double the number of first-time buyers up to half a million. That is the kind of level we saw in the 1980s. There is no reason why our country can't achieve that again.
"That's a goal we set ourselves today."
Video:28 Feb: Boost For First-Time Buyers
Since 2010 there have been 1.2 million first-time purchases and Mr Osborne wants at least 2.4 million more over the next five years
Shadow housing minister Emma Reynolds said: "More warm words on housing from the Chancellor will be cold comfort to the record number of young people and families priced out of home ownership over the past five years.
"Under this Tory-led government we've seen the lowest levels of housebuilding in peacetime since the 1920s and home ownership has fallen to a 30-year low.
:: Full Coverage of General Election 2015
"Labour's Better Plan will ensure Britain builds the homes working people need.
"Labour will get at least 200,000 homes built a year by 2020, backed by a comprehensive plan - the first in a generation - and a £5bn Future Homes Fund to support the building of homes for first-time buyers."
The Tory pledge came as a YouGov poll for the Sunday Times showed the party overtaking Labour to move into a one point lead by 34% to 33%.
Video:Archive: London Homes Unaffordable
But Opinium research for The Observer had the Conservatives down one point on 33%, level-pegging with Labour (unchanged), while UKIP was up one point on 14%.
Liberal Democrats were down one on 7%, Greens were unchanged on 7% and the Scottish National Party were up one on 4%.
In a dramatic development on Saturday, an inquiry was ordered into the leak of a UK Government account of a private meeting between SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon and the French ambassador.
The Daily Telegraph published the diplomatic memo which suggested she had indicated that she would prefer to see Conservatives remain in power after the 7 May General Election.
Ms Sturgeon complained of a "dirty tricks" attempt to halt the party's advance.
She said it was "100% untrue" that she had expressed such a preference - a denial backed by French diplomats at the meeting.
But the memo was seized on by Labour leader Ed Miliband as a "damning revelation" of the SNP leader's true views.
Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 04 April 2015 | 12.25
Nicola Sturgeon has "categorically" denied telling a foreign ambassador she would rather see David Cameron than Ed Miliband as PM after the election.
The SNP leader faced calls to explain a diplomatic memo, which recorded her saying privately that the Labour leader was not "prime minister material".
The claims appeared on the front page of the Daily Telegraph, and were followed swiftly by an angry denial from Ms Sturgeon.
In a direct tweet to the journalists who wrote the story she said: "Your story is categorically, 100%, untrue ... which I'd have told you if you'd asked me at any point today."
A spokeswoman for the First Minister added: "It must be a belated April Fool.
Video:Sturgeon On SNP-Labour Pact
"As Nicola has said on numerous occasions, she wants to see the back of a Tory government which is decisively rejected by the people of Scotland and unlike Labour, the SNP is the only party that has promised to lock David Cameron out of Downing Street."
However the Telegraph published a leaked UK Government memorandum apparently written after Scotland's First Minister met French ambassador Sylvie Bermann.
The memo of the meeting in February detailed her apparent preference for Mr Cameron remaining in Downing Street.
The note was written by a British civil servant after a conversation with the French consul-general.
It said: "Discussion appears to have focused mainly on the political situation, with the FM stating that she wouldn't want a formal coalition with Labour; that the SNP would almost certainly have a large number of seats ... that she'd rather see David Cameron remain as PM."
Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy said it was a "devastating revelation" that exposes the uncomfortable truth behind the SNP's General Election campaign.
Video:Snap Polls: Who Won?
"For months Nicola Sturgeon has been telling Scots she wants rid of David Cameron yet behind closed doors with foreign governments she admits she wants a Tory government.
"If Scotland votes SNP in May then Nicola Sturgeon will get her wish - the Tories will be the largest party across the UK and David Cameron will return to Downing Street.
"Only a vote for Labour will deliver a Labour government."
Ms Sturgeon's performance in the televised debate has focused attention on her party's potentially pivotal role in forming the next UK government.
Tories described the prospect of a Labour government propped up by the votes of the Scottish nationalists as a "lethal cocktail".
The party said such an alliance would destabilise the country and undermine the economic recovery.
Video:Who Is Nicola Sturgeon?
She was branded "the most dangerous woman in Britain" by the Daily Mail. Polls suggest the anti-austerity SNP could snatch dozens of Labour seats north of the border.
Meanwhile, campaigning continues into Easter with Labour unveiling a plan to build 125,000 homes by creating a £5bn housebuilding fund.
The Tories, meanwhile, are unveiling a pledge to force pornography websites to use effective age-verification tools to keep out under-18s.
Ms Sturgeon is due to join the annual Scrap Trident group march in Glasgow, only a short distance from the Faslane home of nuclear-armed submarines.
"Never before have the establishment Westminster parties been so unpopular - and never has there been a greater opportunity to build a progressive alliance across these islands to chart a different course," she is due tell the rally.
The latest Survation/Mirror poll puts Mr Miliband ahead of Mr Cameron, with 33% and 31% of the vote respectively.
Video:Sturgeon Asks For EU Guarantee
UKIP polled at 18%, the Liberal Democrats 9%, the SNP 5% and Greens 3%.
These results are markedly different from a YouGov/The Sun poll which was published on Thursday night.
It suggested that the Conservative Party had hit a three-year high - with 37% of those questioned stating they would vote Tory if the General Election was tomorrow.
Labour was on 35%, the Lib Dems on 7%, UKIP on 12% and the Greens on 5%.
Written By Unknown on Jumat, 03 April 2015 | 12.25
The man who mugged disabled pensioner Alan Barnes, sparking a charity campaign that raised £330,000, has been jailed.
Richard Gatiss was sentenced to four years in prison by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court.
The 25-year-old drug addict pushed Mr Barnes over as he put his bins out in Gateshead, breaking his collar bone.
He was trying to get money to buy legal highs when he carried out the mugging, but ran off empty handed.
Gatiss has been jailed for four years for mugging Mr Barnes
Judge Paul Sloan QC said: "I have no doubt he was picked on by you because of his vulnerability.
"It was on any view a despicable offence."
Video:Pensioner On 'Magic' Meeting
Gatiss, from Gateshead, was caught after analysis of DNA evidence from the pocket of Mr Barnes's jacket.
Mr Barnes was too scared to return to his home in Low Fell, Gateshead, and has said he will buy a new house with the money raised online.
The fund was started by beautician Katie Cutler, 21, who initially set a target of £500 to buy new carpets and curtains.
Mr Barnes' disabilities were caused when his mother contracted German measles while she was pregnant.
After he was arrested, Gatiss denied being involved in the mugging, saying he had been brought up better than that, but then later claimed a knifeman made him do it.
When he was challenged, he confessed. Prosecutor Nick Dry said: "He said he wanted money to buy legal highs to which he had become addicted, then breaking down, he was distressed at what he had done."
Jamie Adams, defending, said that Gatiss had recently been diagnosed with epilepsy and that his medication when mixed with legal highs would have a "deleterious effect".
He added that publicity surrounding the case had made Gatiss "the subject of some pretty awful double-standard behaviour" from other inmates.
He said: "Life is not easy for him. He is going to be in the public glare for a long time to come and he knows that.
"There is a lot for him to deal with."
After the sentencing, Mr Barnes said he hoped Gatiss would "do some thinking" while he was in prison.
He said: "I'm pleased he's been sentenced and I think the sentence of four years is just about the right length.
"I hope while he's in prison he'll do some thinking and when he comes out he'll do something useful.
"Maybe he might decide to help people, which I think would be a good idea for him.
"It's sad that he was brought to the stage of doing something like this - not necessarily just me, it could have been anybody and they might not have got over the incident."
Mr Barnes added that his injuries have now virtually healed and he has found a new house in Low Fell that he hopes to buy.
In a letter to the judge, Gatiss' father Karl said he had disowned his son after the mugging, but said he had since decided he could not abandon him.
He wrote: "He started on the slippery slope of drug-taking. He latterly used legal highs and the likeable lad we had known slowly drifted away from us.
"Our family observed the deterioration of our formerly cheeky boy into a shadow of himself, obviously with whom we were unable to communicate.
"He recognises the gravity of what he has done and is disgusted with himself and is full of remorse."
One of the nine Britons detained in Turkey for allegedly trying to cross into Syria is the son of a Labour councillor.
In a statement, Rochdale councillor Shakil Ahmed said he was "shocked, worried and extremely upset" to find out his 21-year-old son Waheed was one of those held by Turkish authorities.
Officers from Greater Manchester Police and North West Counter Terrorism are working with Rochdale Council, local partners and faith leaders to establish why the family were found at the border.
The five adults, aged 21, 22, 22, 24 and 47, as well as four children aged one, three, eight and 11, are believed to be related and currently live in Rochdale.
The Britons are expected to be deported from Turkey on Thursday.
The family leave hospital after undergoing check ups and fingerprinting
Mr Ahmed, who represents the Kingsway ward on the council, said he thought his son was in Birmingham on a work placement.
He added: "My son is a good Muslim and his loyalties belong to Britain, so I don't understand what he's doing there.
Video:Manchester Police Statement
"If I thought for a second that he was in danger of being radicalised I would have reported him to the authorities.
"He's studying a degree in politics and sociology at Manchester University and has a good future ahead of him."
The nine were held by Turkish officials at a military outpost at Ogulpinar, in the south of the country.
Footage released earlier showed them arriving at a police station in Southern Hatay province.
Assistant Chief Constable Ian Wiggett said: "What is obviously concerning is why a family were seemingly attempting to take very young and vulnerable children into a warzone; such a volatile and dangerous environment is no place for them whatsoever.
"We have commenced an investigation to try and establish their reasons for travel and as this is a live investigation - which is very much in its infancy - we are not in a position to comment further."
Police say they have found "no evidence whatsoever" of any imminent threat to the community in Rochdale or anywhere else in the UK.
Simon Danczuk, who is defending the Rochdale seat for Labour at the election, said: "I am in the process of trying to find out more information on this case from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, though I would like to thank the authorities for stopping this family entering what is effectively a war zone.
"I am particularly disturbed that children were involved.
"I have also been in touch with the father of one of the young men who was there and he is shocked and confused as to why his son would be trying to enter Syria."
Written By Unknown on Kamis, 02 April 2015 | 12.25
Hillsborough Survivor Saved By 'Kiss Of Life'
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Video:Relatives' Moving Stories
By Nick Martin, North Of England Correspondent
Survivors of the Hillsborough tragedy have given moving accounts of what happened to them that day.
They were called as witnesses to the inquests into the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans who died at the semi-final on 15 April, 1989.
Ian McDermott, who paid £6 for his ticket to attend the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, told the jury that he was one of the fans who entered the stadium through a side gate which had been opened by police to allow fans into the ground.
He told the inquest he went through a tunnel at the Lepping's Lane end and arrived at a crowded pen three.
"I just describe it was a swirl. It was completely rotating all the time, never stayed still," he said.
1/7
Gallery: Hillsborough Report: Key Figures
Sir Norman Bettison was involved in the original internal inquiry for South Yorkshire Police and is now chief constable of the West Yorkshire force. Insists he has "nothing to hide"
David Duckenfield was chief supt of South Yorkshire Police and in charge of policing on the day of the disaster
]]>
Former South Yorkshire Police superintendent Bernard Murray was Duckenfield's deputy at the game. Was acquitted of manslaughter charges brought in a private prosecution in 2000. Died in 2006
]]>
Former South Yorkshire Police chief constable Peter Wright gave his backing to police version of events blaming fans. Died in 2011
]]>
The former Police Federation spokesman Paul Middup was among those who sought to place blame on Liverpool fans and his version of events contributed to the now notorious Sun front page
]]>
"I was completely compressed from all sides, I just couldn't move at all. I wasn't in control of my own movement.
"I knew instantly that there was a problem. The match was very quickly erased from my mind. I wasn't interested in anything that was happening on the pitch."
Shortly after kick-off Mr McDermott said he lost consciousness and woke up on the floor of the terraces.
He said: "There was a lot of people standing on my legs and there was someone holding my head. I could hear people shouting into my ear."
He told the inquest that he believed someone had given him "the kiss of life" and placed him face down on the pitch in the recovery position.
He told the inquest that in the days after the disaster he had suffered chest pains and panic attacks.
Gillian Edwards had attended the semi-final the year before with her friend Fiona and had stood in the same pen with a fence between them and the pitch, she told the inquest.
"We both said to ourselves we had to make sure we never had a barrier in front of us because we got crushed that year. It was uncomfortable which made us scared," she said.
She said on the day of the tragedy they had both returned to the stadium and also stood in pen three.
"It was fine. We were just having a laugh, banter with people I remember a beach ball going over head," the jury heard.
Shaking and tearful giving evidence, she said: "Two specific memories I have is one of the push forward and then another push, which scared me.
"I was used to football crowds and movement because of going to the various matches. That scared me but then it eased off. But then there was a second surge forward.
"There was no police. I knew there was something really wrong happening.
"I was making sure that I was breathing. I was making sure, just thinking 'What the hell is going on here?'.
1/19
Gallery: Day Of Tragedy
This gallery contains images of the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 people died. Here, people try to help those caught up in the crush
Policemen aid football fans at Hillsborough stadium
]]>
"And there was a man who was shouting 'There's girls here, there's girls here. Get the girls out. Stop pushing!'.
"I could hear more panic in his voice, which was making me even more aware then how bad the situation really was."
Christina Lambert QC, on behalf of the coroner, asked: "You lost consciousness in the crowd that day?"
"Yes. I did yes," Ms Edwards replied.
The jury heard that Gillian Edwards suffered a "severe brain injury" during the crush and woke up in hospital having been in a coma for five days.
She was "totally blind" when she woke up and had since regained some sight since, the inquest heard.
John McCarthy told the inquest that his younger brother Ian was one of the 96 who died.
He recalled the crush and being told that his brother had died. He said he went to a gymnasium which had been set up as a temporary morgue.
"There was a pile of bodies on the floor, all over the place, laid out in lines. We had to step over them all to get to Ian because he was on the far side. Once we got there we wouldn't leave him alone.
"When we first got to Ian we knelt down beside him. He had his eyes open. I put him on my knee I said 'wake up'.
"I just couldn't believe he was gone. I sat there cradling him."
He told the inquest that several months ago police showed him video footage of the gymnasium and that he had identified his brother.
"The video zoomed in and I saw Ian. His face was covered and I couldn't work out what it was. Then I could see it was a bin liner. They put a bin liner over his face."
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Hillsborough Survivor Saved By 'Kiss Of Life'
We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.
Video:Relatives' Moving Stories
By Nick Martin, North Of England Correspondent
Survivors of the Hillsborough tragedy have given moving accounts of what happened to them that day.
They were called as witnesses to the inquests into the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans who died at the semi-final on 15 April, 1989.
Ian McDermott, who paid £6 for his ticket to attend the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, told the jury that he was one of the fans who entered the stadium through a side gate which had been opened by police to allow fans into the ground.
He told the inquest he went through a tunnel at the Lepping's Lane end and arrived at a crowded pen three.
"I just describe it was a swirl. It was completely rotating all the time, never stayed still," he said.
1/7
Gallery: Hillsborough Report: Key Figures
Sir Norman Bettison was involved in the original internal inquiry for South Yorkshire Police and is now chief constable of the West Yorkshire force. Insists he has "nothing to hide"
David Duckenfield was chief supt of South Yorkshire Police and in charge of policing on the day of the disaster
]]>
Former South Yorkshire Police superintendent Bernard Murray was Duckenfield's deputy at the game. Was acquitted of manslaughter charges brought in a private prosecution in 2000. Died in 2006
]]>
Former South Yorkshire Police chief constable Peter Wright gave his backing to police version of events blaming fans. Died in 2011
]]>
The former Police Federation spokesman Paul Middup was among those who sought to place blame on Liverpool fans and his version of events contributed to the now notorious Sun front page
]]>
"I was completely compressed from all sides, I just couldn't move at all. I wasn't in control of my own movement.
"I knew instantly that there was a problem. The match was very quickly erased from my mind. I wasn't interested in anything that was happening on the pitch."
Shortly after kick-off Mr McDermott said he lost consciousness and woke up on the floor of the terraces.
He said: "There was a lot of people standing on my legs and there was someone holding my head. I could hear people shouting into my ear."
He told the inquest that he believed someone had given him "the kiss of life" and placed him face down on the pitch in the recovery position.
He told the inquest that in the days after the disaster he had suffered chest pains and panic attacks.
Gillian Edwards had attended the semi-final the year before with her friend Fiona and had stood in the same pen with a fence between them and the pitch, she told the inquest.
"We both said to ourselves we had to make sure we never had a barrier in front of us because we got crushed that year. It was uncomfortable which made us scared," she said.
She said on the day of the tragedy they had both returned to the stadium and also stood in pen three.
"It was fine. We were just having a laugh, banter with people I remember a beach ball going over head," the jury heard.
Shaking and tearful giving evidence, she said: "Two specific memories I have is one of the push forward and then another push, which scared me.
"I was used to football crowds and movement because of going to the various matches. That scared me but then it eased off. But then there was a second surge forward.
"There was no police. I knew there was something really wrong happening.
"I was making sure that I was breathing. I was making sure, just thinking 'What the hell is going on here?'.
1/19
Gallery: Day Of Tragedy
This gallery contains images of the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 people died. Here, people try to help those caught up in the crush
Policemen aid football fans at Hillsborough stadium
]]>
"And there was a man who was shouting 'There's girls here, there's girls here. Get the girls out. Stop pushing!'.
"I could hear more panic in his voice, which was making me even more aware then how bad the situation really was."
Christina Lambert QC, on behalf of the coroner, asked: "You lost consciousness in the crowd that day?"
"Yes. I did yes," Ms Edwards replied.
The jury heard that Gillian Edwards suffered a "severe brain injury" during the crush and woke up in hospital having been in a coma for five days.
She was "totally blind" when she woke up and had since regained some sight since, the inquest heard.
John McCarthy told the inquest that his younger brother Ian was one of the 96 who died.
He recalled the crush and being told that his brother had died. He said he went to a gymnasium which had been set up as a temporary morgue.
"There was a pile of bodies on the floor, all over the place, laid out in lines. We had to step over them all to get to Ian because he was on the far side. Once we got there we wouldn't leave him alone.
"When we first got to Ian we knelt down beside him. He had his eyes open. I put him on my knee I said 'wake up'.
"I just couldn't believe he was gone. I sat there cradling him."
He told the inquest that several months ago police showed him video footage of the gymnasium and that he had identified his brother.
"The video zoomed in and I saw Ian. His face was covered and I couldn't work out what it was. Then I could see it was a bin liner. They put a bin liner over his face."
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The British Medical Journal has accused drugs companies which make and market a medicine for a common eye disease of undermining trials of another, cheaper drug so as to maximise profits.
The NHS could save more than £100m a year if doctors were allowed to prescribe Avastin for a common eye condition, says the BMJ.
The drug's current licence allows it to be used for certain cancers, but not age-related macular degeneration.
The condition sees older people slowly lose their central vision until they have only some peripheral vision.
Some 700,000 people in the UK are affected.
But whereas Avastin costs less than £65 per dose, Lucentis, the drug which is licenced for the eye disease, costs £742 per dose.
The BMJ suggests drugs manufacturers have tried to "derail" clinical trials into the cheaper drug's use for age-related macular degeneration.
The companies involved have strenuously denied doing anything wrong.
Novartis, which markets Lucentis in Europe, told Sky News it is taking the allegations seriously. The company said it was committed to research and development into serious eye disease.
It added that it routinely discusses clinical trials with medical professionals to ensure standards are high.
The BMJ is urging the UK medical authorities to approve Avastin for macular degeneration which it says is safe, effective and cheaper.
But the General Medical Council says although it sympathises with doctors, European law does not allow them to prescribe medicines on the basis of cost.
