Weather: Cold Spell Set To Follow Spring Sun

Extreme UK Weather Prompts Warning

Updated: 8:59am UK, Monday 04 March 2013

The extremes of weather that Britain has experienced over the past year highlight the urgent need to plan for a changing climate, the head of the Environment Agency has warned.

Analysis by the Government agency reveals that one in every five days last year saw flooding in England and Wales, while one in four days were spent in drought.

There was flooding on 78 days of the year, and for 95 days there was official drought declared for some areas, figures from the EA show.

Rivers such as the Tyne, Ouse and Tone went from record low levels to experiencing their highest flows since records began, in the space of four months, the agency said.

Recent Met Office analysis suggests the UK could experience a 1976-style drought every 10 years.

The EA said that with the population of London and the South East set to grow by 23% by 2035, action should be taken now.

Modelling suggests some river flows could be cut by up to 80% during the summer in the next 40 years as the climate changes, putting more pressure on businesses that rely on taking water from rivers for irrigation.

The EA has called for an increase in small-scale water storage reservoirs, which can take advantage of wet times and help farmers, commercial turf growers, golf clubs, sports stadiums and racecourses cope with dry periods.

There are currently around 1,700 such water storage reservoirs in England and Wales, supplying around 30% of irrigation needs, but they will need to increase as the UK faces more extreme weather as the climate changes, the agency said.

EA chairman Lord Smith said: "The extremes of weather that we saw last year highlight the urgent need to plan for a changing climate.

"In 2012 we saw environmental damage caused by rivers with significantly reduced flows, hosepipe bans affecting millions and farmers and businesses left unable to take water from rivers.

"But we also saw the wettest year on record in England, with around 8,000 homes flooded.

"Interestingly 2007 - which also saw some of the most severe flooding in recent memory - also started the year with hosepipe bans.

"More of this extreme weather will exacerbate many of problems that we already deal with including flooding and water scarcity, so taking action today to prepare and adapt homes, businesses, agricultural practices and infrastructure is vital."

23.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Bradford Batman' Hands Suspect In To Police

A suspect wanted in Bradford has been handed in to police by a man dressed as the Caped Crusader.

A police spokesman said: "The person who brought the wanted man into the station was dressed in a full Batman outfit.

"His identity, however; remains unknown."

The 27-year-old was handed in to Trafalgar House police station and arrested on suspicion of burglary, fraud and breach of a court order.

He was later charged with handling stolen goods and fraud-related offences.

He will appear before magistrates on Friday.

23.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Harlem Shake: Oz Miners Fired For Dance

By Jonathan Samuels, Australia Correspondent

Up to 15 miners have reportedly been sacked for performing the internet dance craze the Harlem Shake whilst working underground in an Australian gold mine.

The West Australian newspaper reported the miners lost their six-figure salaries over the stunt in the Agnew gold mine last week.

A dismissal letter cited by the paper said mine owner Barminco considered the stunt a safety issue.

A YouTube video shows eight miners performing the convulsive dance.

A sacked worker, who would not give his name told the newspaper that up to 15 people were fired, including some who watched the performance but did not participate.

Sky News has so far been unable to reach Barminco for comment.

The Harlem Shake - seen here in Germany - is popular around the world

The reported sackings have sparked a furious online debate.

A Facebook page calling for the reinstatement of the "sacked WA Harlem Shake Miners" has been set up.

"An underground mine is no place for cowboys, clowns or fools. It's an inherently dangerous place to work and workers are entitled to expect those working alongside them to respect the risks and abide by rules and regulations," posted Greg Harris.

"A bit of fun to pass the time and they get sacked," commented Stacey Hughes.

This is not the first time the dance has got its participants into trouble.

Last week in the US, during a flight from Colorado Springs to San Diego, a group of students started the Harlem Shake leading to an investigation by the Federal Aviation Authority.

FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer said they are looking at what phase the flight was in during the dance in the aisles.

Frontier Airlines said the seatbelt sign was off and safety measures were followed.

The video which started the dance craze was created by five teenagers from Queensland, Australia, calling themselves The Sunny Coast Skate.

Filmed in a bedroom, the video begins with one of the youngsters dancing erratically in a mask, and when the beat changes the others all join in.

The simple theme has been replicated millions of times on the web with up to 4,000 videos of Harlem Shake variations uploaded daily.

23.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

HIV Baby: Doctors Say Infected Girl 'Cured'

A baby girl born with HIV has been cured after very early treatment with standard drug therapy, researchers say.

The child, from Mississippi in the US, is now two-and-a-half years old and has been off HIV drugs for about a year with no signs of infection.

More testing needs to be done to see if the treatment would have the same effect on other children.

But the case could change the way high-risk babies are treated and possibly lead to a cure for children with HIV, which causes Aids.

"This is a proof of concept that HIV can be potentially curable in infants," said Dr Deborah Persaud, a virologist at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

She presented the findings at the conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Atlanta.

If the baby stays healthy, it would be only the second reported case of a person who has recovered from HIV after that of Timothy Ray Brown, known as "Berlin patient", in 2007.

Timothy Ray Brown became the first person to have recovered from HIV

His HIV infection was completely eradicated through an elaborate treatment for leukaemia that involved the destruction of his immune system and a stem cell transplant from a donor with a rare genetic mutation that resists HIV infection.

The treatment used for the baby girl was, however, very different as it involved the use of a cocktail of widely available drugs already used to treat HIV infection in infants.

The girl was born in a rural hospital to a woman who had just tested positive for HIV infection.

Because her mother had not received any prenatal HIV treatment, doctors knew the child was born at high risk of being infected.

So they transferred the baby to the University of Mississippi Medical Centre in Jackson, where she was put on a cocktail of three standard HIV-fighting drugs when she was just 30 hours old - even before lab tests came back confirming her infection.

After starting on treatment under the care of Dr Hannah Gay, a paediatric HIV specialist, the baby's immune system responded and tests showed levels of the virus were diminishing until it was undetectable 29 days after birth.

The latest case offers promising clues in HIV research, scientists say

The baby received regular treatment for 18 months, but then stopped coming to appointments for a period of about 10 months, when her mother said she was not given any treatment.

When the child came back under the care of Dr Gay, she ordered standard blood tests to see how the child was faring before resuming antiviral therapy.

The first blood test did not turn up any detectable levels of HIV. Neither did the second.

And tests for HIV-specific antibodies - the standard clinical indicator of HIV infection - also remained negative.

"At that point, I knew I was dealing with a very unusual case," Dr Gay said.

Further, more sophisticated blood tests followed, and there was no detectable virus in the child's blood.

The doctors advised that she not be given antiretroviral therapy. Instead, she will be monitored.

Dr Rowena Johnston, vice president and director of research for the Foundation for Aids Research, which helped fund the study, said it is "imperative that we learn more about a newborn's immune system, how it differs from an adult's and what factors made it possible for the child to be cured".

23.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Justin Bieber Fans Target Girl Over Retweet

A British teenager has received death threats from Justin Bieber fans on Twitter after the singer retweeted one of her messages.

Courtney Barrasford, 15, from Hampshire, reportedly came back from a drama class where people had praised the latest acoustic album from the Canadian singer.

She listened to it and then posted a message on Twitter saying she liked it, despite not previously being a fan.

"Not really a fan of Justin Bieber but his acoustic album is actually good," she wrote.

Bieber retweeted the message to his 34 million Twitter followers and this prompted a barrage of jealous outrage.

Courtney was soon receiving insulting and threatening messages.

One fan of the 19-year-old pop star wrote: "I am a Belieber of him since 2009 and he didn't notice me. And you're not even a ******* fan. You get noticed. OMG."

Another wrote to Bieber: "U notice her n she's not even a fan. I am but you won't notice me Can anyone hear me crying?"

Despite the backlash Courtney received on Twitter, other Bieber fans were shocked at the jealous comments.

One fan said: "Wow I'm sorry for the way some of Justin's fans are treating you. There are some good ones tho.. I hope you're ok!"

23.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Woman Jailed For Life For Grandmother Murder

A woman has been jailed for a minimum of 37 years for murdering a stranger in a knife attack in the street.

Nicola Edgington had killed her mother six years earlier, but was released to live in the community.

She was found guilty at the Old Bailey last month of murdering Sally Hodkin, 58, and attempting to murder Kerry Clark, 22.

Both women were on their way to work in Bexleyheath, southeast London, in October 2011 when Edgington attacked them with a knife.

She bought one knife from Asda and attacked Miss Clark, who was waiting for a bus.

When Miss Clark grabbed the blade and kicked her away, Edgington ran to a butcher's shop and grabbed a larger knife.

Edgington took the knife from a butcher's shop

She attacked Mrs Hodkin, a law firm accounts clerk, with such force that she almost decapitated her.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) found that a number of police blunders led to Edgington carrying out the attacks.

The 32-year-old made five 999 calls just hours before asking to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act because she believed herself to be a danger.

But Metropolitan Police staff failed to carry out a police national computer (PNC) check on her which would have alerted them to her previous conviction for the manslaughter of her mother, the IPCC said.

Edgington also sought help at a local hospital from where she called 999.

But after delays in admitting her, she walked out.

The IPCC found officers only contacted the hospital following her fourth phone call and said Edgington's second 999 call from the A&E department was downgraded because she was considered to be in a place of safety.

Sally Hodkin was on her way to work

An officer was not dispatched at this stage despite Edgington's claim she could be very dangerous, it found.

Edgington was said to have a borderline personality disorder and was found to be emotionally unstable and regularly blamed others for her situation.

She was ordered to be detained indefinitely at a secure hospital after stabbing her mother nine times in 2006.

Doctors diagnosed schizophrenia and she pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

But medics ruled she was well enough to be treated in the community after three years.

At the Old Bailey Judge Brian Barker told Edgington her behaviour had been "consistent and calculated".

He said: "You are manipulative and exceptionally dangerous. What you did could not have been more selfish.

"I disagree that the responsibility for these acts can be laid on others.

"You made your choice and these were terrible acts for which you must take responsibility.

"You have come as near as can be to having three deaths on your hands."

Edgington was jailed for life with a minimum term of 37 years for murder and given a concurrent sentence of life with a minimum term of 20 years for attempted murder.

Mrs Hodkin's widower, Paul, told the court in a statement: "Forty years of marriage gone, wiped out in seconds by someone that should not have been on the streets."

His solicitor, Daniel Rubinstein, said outside court: "While the family are relieved that a very dangerous woman has been taken off the streets, they remain concerned at the very many questions that remain over the actions of authorities and the alleged failure to treat clearly dangerous people in a secure environment.

"They will be considering further action to get answers in the hope that other families won't have to go through the same appalling experience that they have."

23.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Baby Born After New York Hit-And-Run Dies

A baby delivered by doctors after his parents were killed in a hit-and-run car crash in New York has died, a community spokesman has confirmed.

Nachman and Raizy Glauber, both 21, died in the crash in Brooklyn but their baby initially survived after doctors performed an emergency caesarean section on the mother.

However, Isaac Abraham, a spokesman for the family's Orthodox Jewish community, said the child died on Monday morning.

Police are searching for the driver and passenger of a BMW who fled the scene on foot.

"This guy's a coward and he should pay his price," said Mr Abraham, adding that the community wants a murder prosecution.

The registered owner of the BMW, who was not in the car at the time of the crash, has been charged with insurance fraud.

Raizy and Nachman Glauber pictured on their wedding day

Many of the Glaubers' fellow Orthodox Jews attended the couple's funeral, which was held hours after their deaths. Jewish law calls for the burial of the dead as soon as possible.

Mr Glauber was described as "the sweetest, most charming human being, always with a smile on his face".

His cousin, Sara Glauber, added of the couple: "If one had to go, the other had to go too because they really were one soul."

The hit-and-run happened in the Williamsburg neighbourhood of Brooklyn, as the couple made their way to a local hospital in a cab.

Mrs Glauber, who was seven months pregnant, was sitting in the back of the car. Her body was thrown from the vehicle and landed under a parked lorry, according to witnesses.

Her husband was trapped in the vehicle and emergency workers had to cut the roof off to free him from the wreckage.

The cab driver was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital and released.

Hundreds attended the couple's funerals on Sunday

The Glaubers were married about a year ago and had started a life together in Williamsburg, relatives said. He was studying at a rabbinical college nearby.

At their funeral, men in black hats gathered around the coffins in the middle of the street, while women in bright headscarves stood on the pavement, in accordance with the Orthodox Jewish tradition of separating the sexes at religious services.

A man could be heard sobbing as he spoke through a loudspeaker, while Yitzchok Silberstein, Mrs Glauber's father, said: "I will never forget you, my daughter."

Brooklyn is home to the largest community of ultra-Orthodox Jews outside Israel, with more than 250,000 living in the New York borough.

23.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Israel Locust Alert: 'Great Damage' In Egypt

An enormous swarm of locusts has descended on Egypt, with authorities in Israel worried they could spread across the border.

Millions of insects have already devastated agricultural land near the Egyptian capital Cairo by stripping crops.

Fears of a similar wave of destruction in Israel prompted the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to set up an emergency hotline.

It asked people to be vigilant in reporting sightings in order to prevent an outbreak.

The Times of Israel said an estimated 30 million locusts had descended on Giza, "causing great damage".

It quoted Salah Abad Almoman, the Egyptian agricultural minister, as saying the armed forces had been drafted in to battle the bugs.

Another newspaper, Egypt Independent, said up to 95% of the insects had been eradicated.

The locust alert comes ahead of the Passover festival, which recounts the biblical story of the Jewish exodus from Egypt.

According to the Bible, a plague of locusts was one of 10 plagues God imposed on Egyptians for enslaving and abusing ancient Hebrews.

23.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Liverpool FC Loses £40.5m In Less Than A Year

Liverpool Football Club has reported a £21.8m increase in its debt, along with a loss of £40.5m.

The overall debt of the club now stands at £87.2m.

A restructuring of its accounting period to align it with the football season means the figures apply to the 10 months between August 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012.

The loss of £40.5m for the 10 months period was, however, less than £49.3m the previous year.

The accounts show that although commercial revenue increased, so did the club's overall liabilities.

However, managing director Ian Ayre played down the significance of a rise in debt levels.

"It's definitely not something I believe anyone should be worried or concerned about. It is seasonal - our debt goes up and down," he told the Liverpool Echo.

"We have money to pay out and money coming in, just like any business.

"The difference in football is some of the swings are significant, so if you look at player trading, we may need to make investments as we do in the summer before our key revenues come in: big sponsorships cheques, big ticket revenues, all the media revenues etc.

"You come to Christmas when you maybe have less revenue coming in but you have got money that needs to go out, both on playing deals that you are doing at the time but also on historic player deals."

Mr Ayre added: "We need to continue to improve our squad and what a lot of people won't relate to perhaps is that when you are improving your squad and making that investment, you have knock-on costs that will create debt in the short term.

"We will continue to invest in the squad - I think that is what our fans would expect.

"But the most important thing is that we do it prudently and in a sustainable way that is affordable."

Contributing factors to the increase in debt were player instalment payments plus exceptional payments of just over £9.5m - relating to matters such as the stadium project, general restructuring and pay-offs to senior employees who left the club.

The 2013 Deloitte Football Money League, which is ranked on position and revenue in 2011-2012, listed Liverpool in ninth position.

23.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Queen Leaves Hospital After Stomach Bug

Queen Has Rarely Fallen Sick In Her Reign

Updated: 9:19am UK, Saturday 02 March 2013

During her six decades as monarch, the 86-year-old Queen has rarely taken time out of her active schedule of public engagements because of ill health.

She has had occasional problems with her back. In October, she was forced to cancel an appearance at a Windsor Castle investiture ceremony, and she also had to miss a church service in Scotland a few days earlier.

In 2006, she suffered a strain to her back during her annual summer break at Balmoral which led to her cancelling a tour of Arsenal's new stadium.

A firm believer in homeopathy like her son the Prince of Wales, the Queen has often supplemented more conventional medical opinion with herbal remedies.

As a young woman, in January 1949, she caught measles and had to be separated from the newborn Charles.

The first time the Queen was admitted to hospital was in July 1982 when she had  a wisdom tooth extracted at the exclusive King Edward VII Hospital in central London.

In March 1993, she was forced to cancel several engagements because she had the flu.

However, in the same month, she refused to cancel a visit to a handbag factory despite having had three stitches in her left hand after being bitten by one of her corgis.

In January 1994, she wore a plaster cast after breaking her left wrist when her horse tripped during a ride on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

The injury was not diagnosed until almost 24 hours later after she had remounted and ridden back to Sandringham unaware of the damage. Her wrist was X-rayed and set in plaster at a hospital in King's Lynn.

She was admitted to the King Edward VII Hospital in January 2003 for keyhole surgery on her injured right knee.

She had torn cartilage when she jarred the knee walking on rough ground during a private visit to Newmarket, Suffolk.

A 45-minute operation to remove the cartilage was a complete success and the Queen used a walking stick during convalescence when her official engagements were scaled down.

In December the same year, the Queen, then 77, returned to the King Edward VII for a similar operation on her left knee.

This time the damage appeared to be due to her advancing age or general wear and tear rather than a specific injury.

At the same time, surgeons removed minor - non-cancerous - lesions from her face in a double procedure lasting an hour and a quarter.

The Queen cancelled and postponed engagements but was fully active again in a few weeks.

23.38 | 0 komentar | Read More