Tower Of London Keys Stolen From Sentry Post

Locks have been changed at the Tower of London, home to the Crown Jewels, after a thief was spotted by guards stealing a set of keys from a sentry post.

But the famous Beefeaters reportedly did not give chase, instead they radioed for help, as rules prevent them leaving their posts.

Tower chiefs insisted that the priceless Crown Jewels were never at risk of being stolen but admitted security procedures "were not carried out to the expected standard".

Police have launched an investigation after the intruder stole the set of keys from a sentry box at the fortress site.

Three Beefeaters, in a file photo from 1996, with one of the Tower ravens

The keys gave access to the Tower's drawbridges as well as conference rooms and a restaurant, according to Historic Royal Palaces, which operates the tourist attraction.

A Historic Royal Palaces spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that an incident took place in the Tower environs in the early hours of November 6 and that this is now a police matter, so we are unable to discuss details.

"We can however confirm that during this incident, keys for a restaurant and conference rooms were taken together with a key to an internal lock to the Tower drawbridges that is not accessible from the outside.

"It would not have been possible to gain access to the Tower with any of these keys. All the affected locks were immediately changed," she added.

"We have carried out an internal investigation and have concluded that our well-established security systems and procedures are robust.

Yeomen Warders also perform ceremonial duties for the monarch

"However on this occasion, these procedures were not carried out to the expected standard. A staff disciplinary procedure is under way to address this issue."

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "An allegation of theft has been made to police, which is being investigated by Tower Hamlets CID."

The Tower of London is famously guarded by the Yeoman Warders, nicknamed Beefeaters, along with a private security firm.

The yeomen first formed the Royal Bodyguard in 1509 but their origins go back to the reign of Edward IV in 1461.

Serving Beefeaters must have completed at least 22 years military service, and are synonymous with the Tower - as are the six resident ravens.

Legend has it that the kingdom and Tower will fall if the ravens - each of which has a single clipped wing - ever leave the high-security site.

Beefeaters must have served with honour in the military for 22 years

The Crown Jewels have had an allure for countless visitors over the years and the British monarchy is the only one in Europe that still uses the symbolic gems in coronation ceremonies.

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Call Of Duty: Black Ops II Set To Be Blockbuster

Call Of Duty: Black Ops II is being released from midnight - and could end up being the biggest selling game of the year.

Black Ops II is the ninth full game in the CoD franchise, and promises to be its most successful title to date as each previous release has been more succesful than the last.

The last CoD title, Modern Warfare 3, which came out in November 2011, grossed $1bn (£623m) throughout the world in its first 16 days of release.

According to publisher Activision, MW3 beat Avatar's record of 17 days to become the biggest entertainment launch of all time.

The gun's carrying handle vibrates with each shot fired (Activision)

The single player campaign in Black Ops II features a similar Cold War setting to the first game.

But after the main character and the story background have been established, the action progresses to the futuristic setting of 2025.

The near-future battleground features some advanced weapons, and drones will also be encountered. Frank Wood and Raul Menendez, characters from the original Black Ops, feature in the new game as well.

As a franchise, Call Of Duty keeps going from strength to strength with the two main developers, Infinity Ward and Treyarch, ensuring a new title is released every year.

But while the series is an undisputed commercial success, some hardcore gamers have grown weary of the franchise, in both single player and multiplayer modes.

Blops II sees drones being used on the battlefield of 2025 (Activision)

The main concern about the multiplayer experience is the quality of the technical infrastructure to support online play.

Black Ops was hammered at launch after many players found the game to be buggy and in some cases almost unplayable.

Treyarch was quick to patch the game, but the damage had been done, and CoD critics generally reckon the series peaked in 2007 with the release of Modern Warfare.

Subsequent CoD games have been condemned for offering the single player few - if any - options in the way they can complete missions.

Such "corridor shooters" see the player shepherded through a predefined area rather than being offered a more open world to explore.

The series sticks to a formula, with token rail sections and quicktime events, and the graphics have not received a significant upgrade in years.

The graphics look good, but the competition is fierce (Activision)

But the CoD games are not alone in this respect, with titles such as Battlefield 3 and Medal Of Honor: Warfighter offering a similarly limiting single player experience.

In contrast, the likes of Far Cry 2, Crysis and Borderlands 2 offer a larger, generally unfettered game world which encourages exploration.

Treyarch has promised to address some of these perceived shortcomings by saying Black Ops II will let players make strategic choices in the game, which could ultimately affect the storyline.

But whether it delivers on that pledge or not, the game is bound to be a commercial success, despite the recent launches of Halo 4 and Warfighter, and Far Cry 3 due out at the end of the month.

Call Of Duty: Black Ops II is being made available on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC - as well as Nintendo's forthcoming Wii U tablet/console hybrid.

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Coach Fall: Woman Hurt On M42 Motorway

A woman has suffered a serious head injury after falling from a coach travelling on the M42 motorway in the West Midlands.

The victim, in her 20s, is believed to have fallen from the vehicle's emergency exit near the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.

The West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to junction six of the motorway shortly after 11pm on Sunday night.

An ambulance service spokesman said the woman had suffered a serious head injury and was stabilised at the scene before being taken to Coventry's University Hospital.

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Amelia Arnold Search: Police Find A Body

Police looking for Amelia Arnold have found a body they believe to be that of the missing teenager.

The discovery comes after searches took place in a wooded area of Hatfield in Hertfordshire.

Formal identification and post-mortem tests are yet to be carried out, a police spokeswoman said.

Ms Arnold, 19, went missing from her home in Hadrian's Walk, Stevenage, on Wednesday.

Detective Chief Inspector Tim Redfearn, who is leading the investigation, said: "Amelia's family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers at this difficult time.

"They have requested that their privacy be respected whilst they come to terms with what's happened over the past few days."

Ms Arnold's boyfriend Jack Wall, 22, with whom she lived, was arrested on suspicion of murder after he handed himself into police on Sunday.

He remains in custody, police said.

Meanwhile, another man, Joseph Potter, 41, has been charged in connection with Ms Arnold's disappearance.

Potter, from Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, is accused of perverting the court of justice and is due to appear in court.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police by calling the non-emergency number 101.

Alternatively call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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Alps Shootings: 'Fraud Bid' On Bank Accounts

Police have questioned a man on suspicion of attempting to access the bank accounts of an engineer murdered in the French Alps.

Detectives are looking into claims that someone tried to get into the accounts of Saad al Hilli by telephone after his death on September 5.

About 100 police officers in Britain and France are investigating the murders of engineer Mr al Hilli, 50, his dentist wife Iqbal, 47, her elderly mother, Suhaila al Allaf, 74, and passing cyclist Sylvain Mollier in a horrifying gun attack near Chevaline, Lake Annecy.

The couple's four-year-old daughter Zeena lay undiscovered under her mother's corpse for eight hours after the shooting, while her seven-year-old sister Zainab was found with serious injuries after being shot and beaten.

French investigators searched the al Hilli family home in Claygate, Surrey, in the wake of the deaths.

Later in September, Surrey Police asked Greater Manchester Police to arrest a man at an address in Alban Street, Salford, on suspicion of fraud offences.

Nigerian-born Abiodun David John was questioned and then later released on bail pending further inquiries. He is due to answer his bail this Tuesday in Surrey.

John, who has since moved to London, has denied any wrongdoing.

He told the Manchester Evening News: "I believe that people have been tapping into my phone and accessing my internet.

"When the police came into my house I did not know what they were talking about.

"I am totally innocent. I do not know where this whole thing has come from."

A spokesman for Surrey Police said: "A 32-year-old man from the Greater Manchester area was arrested on September 25 in connection with an ongoing fraud investigation being carried out by Surrey Police.

"He was released on bail until November 13 pending further enquiries."

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Elmo Star Kevin Clash Accused Of Underage Sex

The puppeteer who performs as Elmo on Sesame Street has been accused of having an underage relationship with a teenage boy.

Kevin Clash is taking leave of absence from the popular children's show following allegations that he had a relationship with a 16-year-old boy.

The non-profit organisation behind the show, Sesame Workshop, said 52-year-old Clash denies the claims, which were first made in June by the alleged partner, who by then was 23.

In a statement, Sesame Workshop said its investigation found the allegation of underage conduct to be unsubstantiated.

But it said Clash exercised "poor judgement" and was disciplined for violating company policy regarding internet usage. It gave no further details.

At his request, Clash has been granted leave of absence in order to "protect his reputation," Sesame Workshop said.

No duration for the leave was specified.

Clash has voiced and animated Elmo since the 1980s.

He starred in a documentary in 2011, Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey, in which he revealed his lifelong ambition to be a puppeteer.

He has received numerous awards for his work as Elmo.

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BBC Boss: We're Working To Rebuild Trust

Names In Line For BBC Top Job

Updated: 12:00pm UK, Monday 12 November 2012

A number of high-profile candidates could be in line to become the BBC's next director-general.

:: Acting director-general Tim Davie is used to difficult situations.

In his current role of director of BBC Audio & Music, with overall responsibility for BBC Radios 1, 2, 3, 4, and the BBC digital radio stations, he had to address prank calls made by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross on Radio 2.

In October he was appointed as the new chief executive of BBC Worldwide and was due to take over in December.

Soon after beginning his post Mr Davie had to deal with the decision to shut 6 Music - a call which was later reversed, bringing more scrutiny.

Mr Davie, who is married with three young sons, read English at Cambridge University, and later joined Procter and Gamble's marketing department, becoming a brand manager in 1991.

:: Michael Jackson, the former chief executive of Channel 4, has a varied and strong pedigree.

His reputation at Channel 4 blossomed with his commissioning of such hits as Da Ali G Show, Queer As Folk and So Graham Norton.

He also launched the two successful channels, FilmFour and E4.

He has succeeded on both sides of the Atlantic.

When he left Channel 4 in 2001 to work in the US one network producer told the media staff were "devastated".

Mr Jackson was previously controller of both BBC1 and BBC2 at various times in the 1990s. His move to the States, where he became president and chief executive officer of the USA Entertainment Group, surprised the industry.

The 54-year-old was the first British TV boss to get a top job in the American industry since Michael Grade, his predecessor at Channel 4.

:: Caroline Thomson, 58, is the BBC's former chief operating officer.

She narrowly missed out to George Entwistle earlier this year and left the corporation at the end of September when her post was axed.

A former BBC journalism trainee who went on to produce BBC Panorama, she became head of corporate affairs at Channel 4 before returning to the BBC as deputy director of the BBC World Service, becoming director of policy and legal and then chief operating officer in 2006.

Having previously deputised for the director general, she could yet become the first woman to land the top job.

Recently she told The Daily Telegraph that the BBC "still has a long way to go on the equality agenda for women and ageism".

:: Helen Boaden, who has stepped aside as BBC director of news until Nick Pollard's report into possible failings of management over the axed Newsnight Jimmy Savile investigation.

:: Ed Richards has been chief executive of Ofcom, the regulator for the communications industry, since 2006.

A former policy adviser to Tony Blair, Mr Richards made the final four for the director-general role before Mr Entwistle was appointed.

Mr Richards, who has also worked in consulting at London Economics Ltd and for former prime minister Gordon Brown, is a governor of The London School of Economics & Political Science, and a trustee of The Teaching Awards Trust.

:: Danny Cohen, controller of BBC1, finds his name in the frame for a big promotion.

He is responsible for the overall direction of the channel and determines its editorial policy, priority, style and presentation based on analyses of target audience needs.

From 2007 to 2010, Cohen was Controller of BBC3 and his commissions included Being Human, Blood Sweat And Takeaways, Our War, Junior Doctors, Him And Her and Russell Howard's Good News. Before that he was head of E4 and Channel 4 Factual Entertainment.

He is paid £262,600 annually.

:: Peter Fincham, 56, ITV's director of television is thought to be another frontrunner.

He joined the commercial broadcaster in 2008 and the channel has seen a creative renaissance with the commissioning of popular programmes such as Downton Abbey and the Fred West drama Appropriate Adult which won a clutch of awards - with The Only Way Is Essex being one of the shows of its age.

Mr Fincham might be reluctant to return to the BBC where he was appointed controller of BBC1 in 2005.

He was forced out two years later in a row over a misleadingly-edited trailer for a documentary about the Queen.

"I worked hard to become a BBC insider," Mr Fincham said later. "When Queengate kicked off I quite quickly realised I wasn't."

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Qatada Given Bail After Winning Latest Appeal

Timeline: Qatada Legal Battle

Updated: 3:36pm UK, Monday 12 November 2012

Abu Qatada has challenged and ultimately thwarted every attempt by the Government to detain and deport him since 2001.

Here is a timeline of the legal battle.

1993: Abu Qatada claims asylum when he arrives in Britain on a forged passport.

1994: Allowed to stay in Britain.

1995: Issues a "fatwa" justifying the killing of converts from Islam, their wives and children in Algeria.

1998: Applies for indefinite leave to remain in Britain.

1999: April - Convicted in his absence on terror charges in Jordan and sentenced to life imprisonment.

October - Speaks in London advocating the killing of Jews and praising attacks on Americans.

2001: February - Arrested by anti-terror police over involvement in a plot to bomb Strasbourg Christmas market. Officers find him with £170,000 in cash, including £805 in an envelope marked "For the mujahedin in Chechnya".

December - Becomes one of Britain's most wanted men after going on the run from his home in west London.

2002: Arrested by police in a council house in south London and detained in Belmarsh high-security jail.

2005: Freed on conditional bail and placed on a control order but arrested again in August under immigration rules as the Government seeks to deport him to Jordan.

2008: April: Court of Appeal rules deportation would breach is human rights because evidence used against him in Jordan might have been obtained through torture.

May - Granted bail by the immigration tribunal but told he must stay inside for 22 hours a day.

June - Released from Long Lartin jail in Worcestershire and moves into a four-bedroom house in west London.

November - He is rearrested after the Home Office tells an immigration hearing of fears he plans to abscond.

December - Qatada's bail is revoked by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) after hearing secret evidence that the risk of him absconding has increased.

2009: Five Law Lords unanimously back the Government's policy of removing terror suspects from Britain on the basis of assurances from foreign governments and it is ruled he can be deported to Jordan to face a retrial on the terror charges.

He is awarded 2,800 euro (£2,500) compensation by the European Court of Human Rights after the judges rule that his detention without trial in the UK under anti-terrorism powers breached his human rights.

2012: January - European judges rule he can be sent to Jordan with diplomatic assurances but not while "there remains a real risk that evidence obtained by torture will be used against him".

February - He is released on strict bail conditions.

April - Rearrested as the Government prepares to deport him after Jordan gives assurances it will "bend over backwards" to ensure he receives a fair trial.

March - Qatada's legal team loses its bid to have the case heard by the Europe's human rights judges, clearing the way for deportation proceedings to continue.

May and August - Siac rejects Qatada's applications for bail.

October - Siac holds appeal hearing.

November - His appeal is granted and he is granted bail.

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Starbucks Denies Making Money In Tax Grilling

A top Starbucks executive has told MPs that the coffee giant has continually made a loss in the UK - but was told his claim "doesn't ring true".

Mr Alstead, global chief financial officer at the company, denied lying to shareholders over the US chain's accounts when he appeared before the Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The PAC is questioning representatives of Starbucks, Amazon and Google about the amount of tax they pay in the UK amid mounting concern about tax avoidance by big international firms.

When grilled by Labour MP Margaret Hodge, head of the PAC, Mr Alstead said Starbucks had only made a profit once in the 15 years it has been doing business in the UK.

"I assure you we are not making money," he told the committee.

"It's very unfortunate. We're not at all pleased about our financial performance here. It's fundamentally true."

Ms Hodge replied: "You have run the business for 15 years and are losing money and you are carrying on investing here. It just doesn't ring true."

Starbucks reportedly paid just £8.6m in corporation tax in 14 years of trading in Britain.

It was also revealed it paid no corporation tax for the past three years, despite sales of £1.2bn in the UK.

But Ms Hodge questioned how that could happen when statements the committee had seen showed a former chief financial operator said in 2007 the division had an operating profit rate of 15%.

Mr Alstead denied knowledge of the statements and insisted the first profit Starbucks made was £6 million in 2006.

Ms Hodge questioned why the company had filed millions in losses then promoted the head of the UK business, Cliff Burrows, to take over the US operation.

She said also it did not "ring true" that the man in charge of an operation that was running such an unsuccessful division would be promoted.

Earlier, the coffee giant's UK managing director, Kris Engskov, told Sky News last month the firm had no plans to change its tax arrangements.

Matt Brittin, the chief executive of Google UK, and Andrew Cecil, Amazon's director of public policy, are also giving evidence to the committee.

Google's UK unit paid just £6m to the Treasury in 2011 on revenue of £395m, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Earlier in the year, The Guardian reported Amazon - Britain's largest online retailer - generated UK sales over the past three years of between £7.6bn and £10.3bn, but paid virtually no corporation tax.

The three firms are among several which have had their tax affairs put under the spotlight recently.

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Fulham Murder: Police Appeal For Witnesses

Police are appealing for witnesses and information after a pensioner was stabbed to death at his home in southwest London at the weekend.

Officers discovered the body of 73-year-old Joseph Griffiths after responding to reports of a burglary at the house in Fulham during the early hours of Saturday morning.

He had been stabbed multiple times in what police described as a "violent attack" at the address on Hazlebury Road.

Local media reports suggested the grandfather was initially found by his 72-year-old wife, Judith. Another relative was also said to be at the home. Neither were injured.

The pensioner was pronounced dead at the scene and a post-mortem later revealed Mr Griffiths, who has two grown-up sons, had been fatally stabbed.

No arrests have been made so far, and police are now investigating the possibility that Mr Griffiths, who ran a car repair centre in south London, was killed as he disturbed an intruder.

Detective Chief Inspector Steven Lawrence, of the Met's Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "We continue to appeal to anyone who may have witnessed anyone suspicious prior to or after this incident or anybody who has any information which would assist us.

"We are conducting house to house inquiries in an around Mr Griffiths' home and forensic examinations are also ongoing."

Anyone with information should contact the Belgravia Police Incident Room on 020 7321 7228 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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