Perseids Meteor Shower To Shimmer In Clear Skies

Meteor watchers are in luck for tonight's Perseids shower, with clear skies predicted for much of the UK.

Up to 60 shooting stars an hour should be visible between late Monday evening and early Tuesday morning.

Sky News weather presenter Sarah Pennock said showers will fade during the night giving many people a chance to see the astronomical spectacle.

"This is good news for observing the meteor shower," she said.

"Particularly for those in eastern coastal counties who will have the lengthiest clear spells.

"You might need a few layers or a blanket while you wait and watch, with much of rural Britain down to single figures overnight."

However, people in Northern Ireland will have "little chance" to spot the meteors with cloud forecast to increase through the night.

The natural phenomenon - the result of the cosmic pollution created by the comet Swift-Tuttle which last passed near the Earth in 1992 - is expected to be visible to the unaided eye.

The Perseids meteor shower in the Republic of Macedonia, August 2011

"Comet Swift-Tuttle won't be visiting our neck of the woods again until the year 2125, but every year we get this beautiful reminder as the Earth ploughs through the debris it leaves in its orbit" said Professor Alan Fitzsimmons of Queen's University Belfast.

"Every meteor is a speck of comet dust vaporising as it enters our atmosphere at 36 miles per second. What a glorious way to go."

Shooting stars are the result of small particles entering the Earth's atmosphere at high speed.

These heat the air around them, causing the characteristic streak of light seen from the ground.

They mostly appear as fleeting flashes lasting less than a second, but the brightest ones leave behind trails of vaporised gases and glowing air molecules that may take a few seconds to fade.

The Perseids meteor shower is active each year from around mid-July to late-August, but for most of that period only a few meteors an hour will be visible.

Brecon Beacons in south Wales has also been tipped as one of the best places to watch the meteor shower.

Those wishing to see the spectacle in the London area and the south east are advised to head for the North Downs or the Chilterns.

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Bryant Attacks Tesco Over 'Unfair' Migrant Use

Changes To Chris Bryant's Speech

Updated: 1:49pm UK, Monday 12 August 2013

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

The before and after sections on Tesco and Next in Chris Bryant's immigration speech are barely recognisable.

The speech delivered by the Shadow Immigration Minister was very different from extracts released in advance at the weekend.

In the Q&A after his speech, he denied he had been nobbled or spoken personally to the two companies.

But, after the angry denials by Tesco and Next at the weekend, by Monday morning the passages had been substantially rewritten and the tone had been dramatically transformed from hostile to complimentary.

:: ON TESCO:

Before:

"Take the case of Tesco, who recently decided to move their distribution centre in Kent.

"The new centre is larger and employs more people, but the staff at original site, most of them British, were told that they could only move to the new centre if they took a cut in pay. The result? A large percentage of the staff at the new centre are from Eastern bloc.

"Then there are the recruitment agencies that specialise in recruiting staff from elsewhere in the EU."

After:

"Take Tesco. A good employer and an important source of jobs in Britain. They take on young people, operate apprenticeships and training schemes and often recruit unemployed or disabled staff through job centres.

"Yet when a distribution centre was moved to a new location existing staff said they would have lost out by transferring and the result was a higher proportion of staff from A8 countries taking up the jobs.

"Tesco are clear they have tried to recruit locally. And I hope they can provide more reassurance for their existing staff. But the fact that staff are raising concern shows how sensitive the issue has become."

Comparison:

After Tesco said they had no distribution centre in Kent, that reference has gone. So too has the allegation about the cut in pay. Instead, Tesco is "a good employer" that is clear it has "tried to recruit locally".

ON NEXT:

Before:

"Look at Next PLC, who last year brought 500 Polish workers to work in their South Elmsall warehouse for their summer sale and another 300 this summer. They were recruited in Poland and charged £50 to find them accommodation.

"The advantage to Next? They get to avoid Agency Workers Regulations which apply after a candidate has been employed for over 12 weeks, so Polish temps end up considerably cheaper than the local workforce which includes many former Next employees.

"The recruitment agency Next used, Flame, has its website http://www.flamejobs.pl entirely in Polish. It's not illegal. But is it fair? Does it inspire long-term commitment to the business?

"In mentioning this I'm not looking for special favours for anyone. I'm just looking for fairness."

After:

"Next PLC recruited extra temporary staff for their South Elmsall warehouse for the summer sale - last year and this year.

"South Elmsall is in a region with 9% unemployment and 23.8% youth unemployment.

"Yet several hundred people were recruited directly from Poland. The recruitment agency Next used, Flame, has its website http://www.flamejobs.pl entirely in Polish.

"Now of course short term contracts and work are sometimes necessary in order to satisfy seasonal spikes in demand.

"But when agencies bring such a large number of workers of a specific nationality at a time when there are one million young unemployed in Britain it is right to ask why that is happening.

"It's not illegal for agencies to target foreign workers. But is it fair for them to be so exclusive? Is it fair on migrant workers who can find themselves tied into agency accommodation deals? And is it good practice for the long term health of the economy when so many local young people need experience and training?

"Next also say they have tried to recruit locally."

Comparison:

The allegation that Next "get to avoid Agency Workers Regulations" has gone. So too has the claim that "Polish temps end up considerably cheaper than the local workforce".

Mr Bryant did, however, make new allegations in his speech against the tourism industry:

"Tourism is one of our largest industries and yet I have heard horror tales of hotel management deliberately cutting hours of young British workers and adding hours to migrant workers who do not complain about deductions from earnings that almost certainly take people below the minimum wage," he said.

But he didn't name names.

More anecdotal accusations, I suspect.

Mr Bryant obviously wanted to avoid another bruising clash with big business.

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Sinkhole Near Disney World Topples Building

A sinkhole has caused a building in a Florida resort near Disney World to partially collapse, with another section of the building also slowly dropping.

About a third of the three-storey structure collapsed at around 3am on Monday, according to Lake County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Tony Cuellar.

The villa at the Summer Bay Resort in Clermont had already been evacuated and no injuries were reported.

Emergency teams had arrived at the scene about 10 miles west of Disney World late on Sunday night to find the the building was making popping sounds and windows were breaking.

Homes around the damaged building were also evacuated

The sinkhole, which is in the middle of the villa, is said to be about 40 to 50ft (12m to 15m) in diameter. 

The authorities think it may be getting deeper, but it is not clear if it is also growing outward.

The building houses 24 units and about 20 people were staying in it at the time. A nearby villa was also evacuated as a precaution.

Luis Perez, who was staying at a villa near the sinking one, said he was in his room when the lights went off at around 11.30pm. He said he was on his way to the front desk to report the power cut when he saw firefighters and police outside.

"I started walking toward where they were at and you could see the building leaning and you could see a big crack at the base of the building," he said.

Cracks first appeared on Sunday night. Pics: Lake County Fire Rescue

Florida has a well-documented problem with large sinkholes. Last February, a giant pit opened underneath a house in a suburb of Tampa, swallowing up 36-year-old Jeff Bush who was in bed at the time. His body was never recovered.

But such fatalities and injuries are rare, and most sinkholes are small. They can develop quickly or slowly over time.

The state sits on limestone, a porous rock that easily dissolves in water, with a layer of clay on top. The clay is thicker in some locations, making them even more prone to sinkholes.

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'He's Not Messiah': Judge Rules Out Baby Name

A Tennessee judge has changed a seven-month-old boy's name from Messiah to Martin, saying the original name was earned by one person alone and that was Jesus Christ.

Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew ordered the name change last week, according to WBIR-TV.

The boy's parents originally went to court because they could not agree on his last name, but when the judge heard the first name, she ordered it changed, too.

"It could put him at odds with a lot of people and at this point he has had no choice in what his name is," Judge Ballew said.

She added that it was the first time she had ordered a first name change.

Messiah was the fourth fastest-rising baby name in 2012, according to the Social Security Administration's annual list of popular baby names.

Messiah's birth certificate will have to be changed, said the judge

But the judge in eastern Tennessee said the baby was to be named Martin DeShawn McCullough, which includes both parents' last name.

She explained the name Messiah could cause problems if the child grows up in Cocke County, which has a large Christian population.

"The word Messiah is a title and it's a title that has only been earned by one person and that one person is Jesus Christ," the judge said.

The boy's mother, Jaleesa Martin, from Newport, said Messiah is unique and she liked how it sounded alongside the boy's two siblings, Micah and Mason.

"Everybody believes what they want so I think I should be able to name my child what I want to name him, not someone else," she said.

She is planning to appeal and will get her day in court on September 17.

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Gibraltar: Spain Defiant As Border Row Hots Up

Spain has said it will not back down over extra checks at the border with Gibraltar despite the threat of legal action by the UK.

Downing Street said it was looking at the "unprecedented step" after the Spanish government failed to lift the additional controls over the weekend.

A spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron said the new measures, which have caused tailbacks of several hours for people trying to cross the border, were "politically motivated and totally disproportionate".

But Spain remained defiant, saying it would not abandon the checks and claimed they were "legal and proportionate" as the diplomatic row between the two countries intensifies.

The European Commission plans to send a team of investigators to the border in the next couple of weeks, who will observe the controls, following complaints from several MEPs and EU citizens about long waits there.

It comes as three Royal Navy warships set sail for the Mediterranean in what defence officials stressed was a long-scheduled deployment.

The vessels included the flagship HMS Bulwark, helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious and frigate HMS Montrose.

HMS Westminster will visit Gibraltar for three days

As part of the operation, a fourth warship, the frigate HMS Westminster, will dock in the UK overseas territory of Gibraltar for a routine visit for three days this month, while other ships in the task group are expected to go to Spanish ports.

A Number 10 spokesman said: "Clearly the prime minister is disappointed by the failure of Spain to remove the additional border checks this weekend. We are now considering what legal action is open to us."

The diplomatic spat between the UK and Spain was sparked by the creation of an artificial reef by the Gibraltarian authorities, which the Spanish claim will destroy fishing in the area.

Madrid responded by beefing up border controls, leading to lengthy queues, and suggesting that a 50 euro (£43.30) fee could be imposed on every vehicle entering or leaving the Rock through the fenced border with Spain.

The Royal Gibraltar Police tweeted on Sunday that Guardia Civil checks had caused queues of up to two hours at the border, with Spanish officers checking "every car" going into the Rock.

There have been queues of up to two hours at the border

Reports in the Spanish media suggested that the diplomatic row could escalate to the United Nations, with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's government receiving support from Argentina.

Spanish foreign minister Jose Garcia-Margallo is expected to propose that the two countries present a "united front" over Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands, the El Pais newspaper reported.

Mr Garcia-Margallo will sound out his Argentinian counterpart, Hector Timerman, during a meeting in Buenos Aires next month as he prepares for a "180-degree turn in policy towards the colony", the newspaper said.

Meanwhile, Spanish defence minister Pedro Morenes has said it is "totally normal" for British warships to dock in Gibraltar in what is a "routine visit", according to reports.

Mr Morenes reportedly told the Europa Press news agency: "Neither the British nor the Spanish government have an interest in there being bad relations."

He also said that aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious had requested and been granted permission to stop off at the southern Spanish naval base of Rota on August 18, proving that there was no military escalation between the two countries.

The MoD's operation in the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Gulf - codenamed Cougar 13 - is due to last around four months and will include a series of exercises as well as escort duties and counter-piracy operations.

Four Royal Navy warships, the lead commando group from 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines and elements of naval air squadrons will be supported by five vessels from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

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Zimbabwe's Mugabe Tells Critics To 'Go Hang'

Robert Mugabe has told his opponents to "go hang" in his first public speech since winning Zimbabwe's disputed presidential election.

The 89-year-old gave the defiant address after his opponent Morgan Tsvangirai lodged a petition in court challenging the election outcome.

But Mr Mugabe dismissed his defeated rivals as "pathetic puppets" and "Western-sponsored stooges".

"Those who were hurt by defeat can go hang if they so wish," Mr Mugabe told thousands of supporters at a rally in Harare.

"If they die, even dogs will not sniff at their corpses.

"Never will we go back on our victory."

The crowd cheered as Mr Mugabe delivered the defiant speech

Mr Mugabe was declared the winner of the July 31 election, with 61% of the vote against Mr Tsvangirai's 34%.

He insisted that the Zimbabwean people's choice in government was clear.

"We are delivering democracy on a platter. We say take it or leave it, but the people have delivered democracy," Mr Mugabe said.

Mr Tsvangirai meanwhile vowed to expose "glaring evidence of the stolen vote" through a court bid.

His lawyers filed a petition on Friday at the Constitutional Court challenging the poll, which extended Mr Mugabe's 33-year rule by another five years.

The elections ended a shaky power-sharing government formed by Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai to avoid a tip into conflict in the aftermath of a bloody run-off election in 2008.

Mr Mugabe labelled Mr Tsvangirai a "thief", claiming the opposition leader did not deserve to share power with him after the violent 2008 presidential run-off.

The rally was held to mark Heroes Day

"They are now looking for excuses claiming they were robbed," Mr Mugabe said.

"How can a robber claim he was robbed?

"We found we were dining with and sharing our bed with thieves. We will never give thieves the power to rule."

The rally was held to mark Heroes Day, an annual celebration of those who fought to liberate Zimbabwe from white minority rule.

Mr Mugabe repeated his rhetoric that Zimbabwe will never be a colony of Britain and her allies pledging to review salaries of government workers.

Local observers have called the polls flawed and Western powers have raised serious doubts over the vote.

However, regional organisations the African Union and Southern African Development Community (SADC) were less critical.

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Dutch Prince Dies After Avalanche Tragedy

Dutch Prince Johan Friso has died at the age of 44, more than a year after he was buried in an avalanche.

At 44 he was the youngest brother of King Willem-Alexander and died in The Hague from complications resulting from the brain damage he suffered after his skiing accident 18 months ago.

The prince had been off-piste in Lech, Austria when the avalanche struck in February 2012.

He was initially treated in a London hospital and was brought back to The Hague in a coma last month.

In a statement, the Dutch royal family said Prince Friso had never regained more than "minimal consciousness" after the tragedy.

The government said he died "from complications that arose as a consequence of the brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation following his skiing accident".

He died at the Palace Huis ten Bosch, where he was being cared for.

A source said his mother or one of his brothers had visited him in hospital every week since the accident.

Prince Friso renounced his right to the Dutch throne when he married a commoner whose past was considered too racy for her to become a member of the Dutch royal family.

When he asked for permission in 2003 to marry Mabel Wisse Smit, Dutch media published details of her relationship with mobster Klaas Bruinsma, who was shot and killed in 1991 in front of the Amsterdam Hilton hotel.

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Acid Attack Victim Kirstie Trup Out Of Hospital

One of two young British women who had acid thrown at them in Zanzibar has been discharged from hospital after treatment for her injuries.

The Chelsea and Westminster Hospital said Kirstie Trup left on Sunday night.

Katie Gee - whose burns were described as "horrendous" by her mother - is still being treated.

A statement from the hospital said: "No details on either of the patients' treatment will be released at this time.

"This approach is in line with the families' wishes and we continue to ask that the media respect their privacy at this time."

This cleric is wanted in connection with the attack

The 18-year-olds had been working as volunteer teachers when they were attacked by two men on a motorbike, the first such attack on foreigners on the Indian Ocean island.

Witnesses have spoken of their desperate attempts to wash the acid off the teenagers before they were rushed to hospital.

Ms Gee's family released a photograph of her injuries, showing dark burns seared across her jaw, neck and chest.

On Saturday, she took to Twitter to thank well-wishers, saying: "Thank you for all your support x."

Zanzibar's Tourism Minister Said Ali Mbarouk has offered a reward of 10 million Tanzanian shillings (£2,958) for information leading to the arrest of the suspects, describing the attack as "a shame on the people of Zanzibar".

Five people detained over the attacks were questioned over the weekend.

A radical Muslim preacher wanted in connection with the attack escaped on Sunday after being shot by officers in the shoulder with a tear gas canister.

However, there was confusion about whether Sheikh Issa Ponda Issa had later been detained after handing himself in to a hospital for treatment.

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Savile Police Arrest Man Over 'Sex Offences'

An 80-year-old man has been arrested as part of the investigation prompted by sexual abuse claims against Jimmy Savile.

Officers working on Operation Yewtree arrested the man in south London on suspicion of sexual offences.

The investigation has been run in three strands - those involving Savile, those involving Savile and others, and those involving others.

The latest arrest comes under the category of Savile and others.

A number of celebrities have been arrested as part of the operation, including former pop star Gary Glitter, comedians Jim Davidson and Freddie Starr, and TV artist Rolf Harris.

All deny any wrongdoing and are on police bail.

So far, two people have been charged in separate cases - driver David Smith, who is due to face trial in October, and high profile publicist Max Clifford, who will be tried in March.

Prosecutors have received full files of evidence in relation to DJ Dave Lee Travis, Davidson and a 53-year-old man who was arrested on January 2.

They have given early investigative advice to police in relation to Harris, Starr and Glitter.

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Missing Erika Kacicova: Police 'Closing In'

Police searching for a 13-year-old schoolgirl believe she is still alive after making a second arrest over her disappearance.

In the latest police update on the search, Detective Inspector Helen Tate said: "Although we made a second arrest, unfortunately we still don't have Erika."

But she added that police were "closing in" as they investigate what has happened to the teenager from Sheffield.

South Yorkshire Police earlier arrested a 37-year-old man on suspicion of child abduction.

Det Insp Tate said: "The arrest is most certainly a man known to Erika and I feel he's had some contact with her in the last 48-96 hours."

Erika's disappearance has been described as 'out of character'

Police also used a Slovakian interpreter to make a direct appeal to Erika to return home if she can.

The arrest came as her father told Sky News he has not been eating or sleeping since his daughter went missing.

Police have stressed "she is not in trouble", but have called on her to return to her "distraught" family.

Erika was last seen leaving her home in the Darnall area of Sheffield at around 4pm on Monday, August 5.

Police have been conducting house-to-house inquiries there, and have expanded their search to Bradford, where the suspect was arrested.

He is being taken to Sheffield where he will be questioned by officers from South Yorkshire Police.

There have been a number of unconfirmed sightings of the youngster and police say they have some "really positive" lines of enquiry.

But they are still asking the public for any information they have about the missing child.

Her disappearance has been described as "out of character".

Erika is described as being slim and around 4ft 11ins tall. She has long, dark-brown, straight hair and brown eyes.

She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a pink polo-style shirt and a silvery-grey coloured jacket.

A 22-year-old man from Bradford was released on police bail on Sunday after being arrested on suspicion of child abduction.

He approached police on Friday, the day officers made an urgent appeal for information about Erika's whereabouts.

:: Anyone with information about missing Erika is asked to call police on 101.

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