Sex Abuse Probe Process Becoming 'Shambolic'

The Home Secretary has defended her handling of claims of historical child abuse, after the inquiry process she launched was labelled "shambolic".

Theresa May told the Home Affairs select committee she stood by her decision to appoint retired judge Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, who had earlier announced she was standing down before she had even started to spearhead one of two key inquiries.

She was picked to examine whether alleged abuse by politicians and other powerful figures between the 1970s and 1990s was swept under the carpet.

But her appointment was engulfed in controversy because, as an establishment figure herself, victim groups and child protection campaigners said she was the wrong person to head the Government's investigation.

Sir Michael Havers, the brother of Baroness Butler-Sloss

In addition, her late brother, Tory MP Sir Michael Havers, was the Attorney General and Lord Chancellor in during the 1980s.

He is alleged to have had a row with former Conservative MP Geoffrey Dickens in the 1980s in an attempt to stop him using parliamentary privilege to make allegations about paedophilia.

Under fierce questioning by MPs on the committee, Mrs May said she was "disappointed" by the peer's decision and that a replacement would be announced as soon as possible.

Committee chairman Keith Vaz said the peer's resignation after just six days showed the inquiry process launched by Mrs May last week was becoming "somewhat shambolic".

"I reject any suggestion that it is, in your words, unravelling," Mrs May said.

"I continue to believe that (Lady Butler-Sloss) would have done an excellent job, given her experience, expertise and absolute integrity..."

Baroness Butler-Sloss, who had rejected calls to quit, said in a statement earlier that following "a widespread perception" she was not the right person to chair the inquiry, "I did not sufficiently consider whether my background and the fact my brother had been Attorney General would cause difficulties".

Public figures have been accused of abusing children in Westminster

She said: "Having listened to the concerns of victim and survivor groups and the criticisms of MPs and the media, I have come to the conclusion that I should not chair this inquiry and have so informed the Home Secretary."

Labour MP Simon Danczuk, who has been leading a campaign for a full investigation into the claims, said she had made "the right decision".

He told Sky News: "From the moment it was announced I questioned the logic of having somebody who was so well-connected to the establishment. We always needed somebody who was more independent and could challenge the establishment like she never could."

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the probe was "in danger of losing direction" unless a replacement that could "maintain the confidence of victims throughout" was appointed.

Sky's Home Affairs correspondent, Mark White, said the resignation had dealt the Government "a terrible headache" and they have to find someone "who can command the credibility they thought the Baroness would have been able to command".

White added: "They need to do that fairly urgently now, but they have got to be careful they don't make the same mistake."

Last week, Mark Sedwill, the top civil servant at the Home Office, admitted more than 100 files containing allegations of child sex abuse at Westminster were probably destroyed.

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Police Hunt Man Who Took Selfie At Bull Run

A man has been pictured snapping a selfie metres from rampaging bulls during Spain's famous San Fermin festival.

The unknown runner, wearing a bright red sweatshirt, holds his phone aloft as three of the half-tonne animals bear down on him.

The picture was taken during Friday's run, and since then Twitter users have been circulating the hashtag #eltontolmóvil, which means the idiot with the mobile.

Police in Pamplona are reportedly looking for the man as a local law forbids photos while taking part in the dash. He faces a fine of several thousand euros.

It is not known whether he was injured.

A man is lifted up by one of the bulls during the final run of the festival

The no-photo rule is designed to make the event slightly safer and stop people indulging in behaviour that might hold up other runners.

Two Australians and a Spaniard were gored during the final - and longest - run of the festival on Monday.

Another four people also needed hospital treatment as the six bulls chased runners down the cobblestone streets in the chaotic 848-metre dash to the city's bullring.

Daring participants run a course that is 848 metres long

One bull, named Olivito, separated from the pack and repeatedly charged one young man, lifting him up and pinning him against a wall.

Organisers said a 24-year-old Australian man suffered a "light goring" to his right thigh, while a 26-year old Australian was gored three times - to his thigh, thorax and abdominal area.

A 21-year-old Spaniard was also gored in his gluteal area.

The festival's website said some of the men's injuries were "serious" but not life threatening.

Last week, a British man was left vomiting blood, suffering four fractured ribs and a punctured lung after he was trampled.

An American, who wrote a book on how to survive the bullrun, was also badly injured.

Bill Hillmann, a 32-year-old Chicago native, was gored twice in the right thigh, festival organisers said on their website.

The encierro, or the Running of the Bulls, dates back to the Middle Ages and is the highlight of the San Fermin festival.

Many people are injured each year at the festival, while 15 people are believed to have died since record-keeping began in 1910.

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Pistorius Breaks His Silence On Twitter

Oscar Pistorius has broken his silence on social media by posting a string of religious messages.

The Paralympian took to Twitter on Sunday afternoon, five days after the last evidence was heard in his murder trial.

He posted a collage of himself posing with children, along with the message: "You have the ability to make a difference in someones (sic) life."

The 27-year-old also uploaded a passage about how a man in "utter desolation" can still "achieve fulfillment" through "loving contemplation of the image he carries of his beloved".

The athlete posted a picture of himself with children

The last time he tweeted before that was on February 14 this year, the first anniversary of the day he killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Then, he wrote about the "devastating accident" that caused "such heartache for everyone who truly loved - and continues to love Reeva".

The double-amputee is waiting to learn whether he will be found guilty of the 29-year-old model's murder.

Pistorius says he heard what he thought was an intruder in his house and, in "fear for his life", approached a closed toilet door and fired four shots through it.

Pistorius shot Reeva four times through a toilet door

He said he thought Reeva was still in the bedroom when he opened fire.

The athlete's first message to his 354,000 followers - posted at 5.26pm on Sunday - contained seven pictures of himself with children.

Eight minutes later, he posted a passage from Man's Search For Meaning, a book published in 1946 by Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, about his experiences as an inmate at Auschwitz.

It mentions "how a man who has nothing left in this world still may know bliss" by contemplating "his beloved".

His last tweet contained a prayer about those living in pain

Thirteen hours later, he posted a prayer saying: "Lord, today I ask that you bathe those who live in pain in the river of your healing. Amen."

His trial resumes on August 7 and 8, when lawyers will present their final arguments at Pretoria High Court.

The judge will then retire to consider her verdict, which could take several weeks.

Pistorius faces between 25 years and life in prison if found guilty.

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'Dead' Girl, 3, Wakes Up At Her Own Funeral

A three-year-old girl pronounced dead after a fever has apparently woken up at her own funeral in the Philippines.

The girl was declared clinically dead by medical personnel in Zamboanga del Sur, Mindanao, on Friday.

But during the funeral service on Saturday she apparently began moving her head before her family took her out of her coffin.

The girl began moving her head whilst in her coffin

Senior Inspector Heidil Teelan, police chief in Aurora, told The Philippine Star the girl had been suffering from a severe fever when she was taken to a medical clinic.

He told the newspaper: "During that time, the attending clinic personnel and physician confirmed that the young patient had no more pulse and was clinically dead last Saturday morning about 9am."

The girl's coffin

He added that after the little girl reportedly moved her head, family members discovered she had a pulse and immediately gave her water before going for medical help.

The condition of the girl was unknown.

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Amnesia Sufferer Identified After Appeal

A man found wandering in a park and unable to remember his own name has been identified after a media appeal by doctors.

The amnesia patient, called "Robert" during the appeal, is believed to be Alvydas Kanaporis, 22, from Lithuania.

His family contacted the NHS to confirm his identity, said health officials in Cambridgeshire.

It is not known how long he has been in the UK and he still cannot remember any details from his life.

Peterborough City Hospital last week set up a phone line and released a photo of Mr Kanaporis in an attempt to solve the mystery.

He was found on May 18 in a park near Peterborough bus station and was not carrying a wallet or any identifying documents.

Mr Kanaporis did not know how he got there and had no memory of who he was.

Most amnesia sufferers recover their memory fairly quickly, but after two months he showed no signs of improvement.

The main clues to who he was were his Eastern European accent and understanding of Lithuanian and Russian. He also showed sporting ability in basketball, tennis and football.

"At times I am angry, frustrated, depressed, lost and confused," said Mr Kanaporis in a statement last week. 

"I just need to find out my name and I hope someone out there will recognise me and help."

Psychiatrist Dr Manaan Kar Ray said: "Following a tremendous response to the appeal to identify 'Robert', a patient with severe amnesia who has been in our care for nearly two months, the trust has been contacted by his relatives.

"They have helped us establish his name.

"We have, of course, spoken to the patient, and this will give our work with him a new focus.

"However, as I have previously stated, this is only an initial step on what could be a long journey to help him regain his autobiographical memory.

"I would like to thank the public and the media for their interest in this case, but Alvydas has requested he is left to continue his recovery in private."

Mr Kanaporis will carry on his treatment at Peterborough's Cavell Centre mental health unit.

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Ukrainian Plane 'Likely Shot Down From Russia'

A Ukrainian transport aircraft was "probably" shot down from within Russian territory, Ukraine's defence ministry has claimed.

Pro-Russian rebels had previously claimed they had shot down the AN-26 transporter.

Ukrainian officials lost contact with the aircraft's crew near rebel-held Luhansk at lunchtime on Monday.

The defence ministry said some crew of the downed plane had been in contact with the army's general staff.

A statement on the Ukrainian presidency website said only missiles "likely from the territory of the Russian Federation" would have been able to reach the aircraft at the altitude it was flying.

A plane similar to the AN-26 transporter shot down

It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties on the aircraft, which officials said could have been carrying about 20 people.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing saw parachutes. 

Fighting has been intensifying around Luhansk as government forces stepped up efforts to disrupt rebel lines.

Warplanes inflicted heavy losses on the separatists during airstrikes overnight, Ukraine's military said.

Government troops retook several villages around Luhansk and reopened a corridor to the airport, it was claimed.

A Ukrainian woman in Semenovka looks at buildings destroyed during combat

Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has accused the Russian military of sending officers to fight alongside the rebels in the east of the country.

He also claimed that a newly developed Russian missile system had been used against Ukrainian forces during the previous three days.

NATO said Russia had increased its forces along the border and now had 10,000-12,000 troops in the area.

But amid the heightened tensions, Russia said it had invited the OSCE security monitoring group to two of its border crossings with Ukraine as a sign of "goodwill".

Ukrainian forces have been retaking territory on the edge of Luhansk

At the weekend, Moscow claimed a man in Russia had been killed by a shell that had come from across the border.

But Ukraine's National and Security Council spokesman Andriy Lysenko accused rebel fighters of being behind the cross-border shelling.

He told journalists on Monday morning: "The (rebel) fighters systematically fire mortar and shoot into Russian territory which killed a Russian citizen."

On Sunday, Vladimir Putin met with Angela Merkel at the World Cup in Brazil. The German Chancellor urged the Russian President to use his influence over the separatists to help bring about an end to fighting.

In the last two weeks, the government has halved the amount of territory held by the pro-Russia fighters.

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Giant Hailstones Batter Sunbathers On Beach

Beach-goers were left shocked and bruised when a cloudburst struck - and battered them with hailstones the size of golf balls.

Crowds were sweltering in temperatures of 37C (99F) on a popular river beach in Novosibirsk, Siberia, when the clouds suddenly darkened.

Heavy winds hit the area as people tried to stop their beach gear blowing away.

People crowded under parasols to shield themselves from the deluge

Footage of the freak weather shows swimmers running out of the water, covering their heads as hailstones rained down.

Others crowded under parasols to shield themselves from the bombardment.

"If we die, I love you," a female voice is heard saying on the video.

Swimmers ran from the water, covering their heads

Some children were in tears, sheltering under nearby trees, said The Siberian Times.

"It was like being hit by raining bullets from the sky," one sunbather told the newspaper.

"My husband was protecting my young daughter but his back was exposed to the hailstones and he has bruising all over it," another beach-goer said.

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Hotter Than Ibiza: Britain Set For 30C Heatwave

Britain is set for the hottest week of the year so far with the mercury rising to at least 30C (86F), forecasters say.

Temperatures will rise as the week continues, peaking on Friday when parts of the UK will be hotter than Ibiza and Gran Canaria, experts predict.

Sky News weather producer Christopher England said the southeast of England would be hottest, but most other areas should see lots of sunshine too.

Monday has seen temperatures of 24C (75F), with similar weather expected on Tuesday - rising to 28C (82F) by Wednesday.

London basked in temperatures of up to 24C on Tuesday

Sunbathers will then have to slather on more sun cream, with summer's hottest spell likely to bring a sweltering 30C (86F) by Friday.

"This should be the hottest period of the year so far," England said.

"The high temperatures will be seen in quite a wide area covering large parts of the country."

July 4 saw the year's previous highest temperature of 29C (84F).

Northern England and Scotland will reach temperatures up to 22C (71F), while Wales could see temperatures rise to 26C (79F) by the end of the week.

The warm weather is down to hot and humid air being pumped up from Spain, the Met office said.

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Women Bishops Approved By Church Of England

The Church of England has voted to allow its first ever female bishops, ending half a century of wrangling over the role of women.

The decision, taken by the General Synod in York, reverses a previous rejection in 2012.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, said: "Today is the completion of what was begun over 20 years ago with the ordination of women as priests.

"I am delighted with today's result. Today marks the start of a great adventure."

The decision, approved in all three houses of the church's governing body, followed a five-hour debate.

Women bishops could now be appointed by the end of this year in the Church of England.

All three houses of the Synod approved women bishops

One vote saw 37 bishops in favour, two against and one abstention. Another ended with 162 clergy in favour, 25 against and four abstentions. And in the crucial lay vote there were 152 in favour, 45 against and five abstentions.

In 2012 the introduction of female bishops was derailed by just six votes cast by lay members.

Archbishop Welby staked his authority on a new proposals and promised traditionalists he would commit to meeting their needs should they pass the legislation.

But not all conservatives were convinced.

Chik Kaw Tan, a lay member from the Lichfield Diocese, said: "The very same arguments that are being used to promote women in the episcopate are the very same arguments that are being used to redefine marriage from that which is between a man and a woman to two persons of the same sex."

More follows...

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Best Selfie Ever? McCartney And Buffett On Bench

It's not unusual for two elderly gentleman to while away a Sunday afternoon setting the world to rights on a public bench.

But when one happens to be one of the world's richest men and the other a former Beatle, people tend to take notice.

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett showed rock legend Sir Paul McCartney around his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, on Sunday.

And the stunned grin of one youngster who stumbled upon the remarkable sight says it all.

Luke Koesters was among the Omahans who spotted the famous pair in the city's Dundee neighbourhood.

According to the Omaha Herald, Buffett and Sir Paul, 72, had dinner at an Italian restaurant before visiting an ice creamery.

One customer who chatted with the former Beatle told the newspaper: "He deserves to be called 'Sir' because he's nothing but polite."

Sir Paul - who is due to perform at an arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Monday - reportedly arrived in a limousine. 

It is not clear what the two talked about - perhaps Sir Paul was seeking financial advice in exchange for some musical tips for keen ukulele player Buffett.

It is not the first time an international rock star has turned heads in Omaha.

The city has seen several visits from U2 frontman and humanitarian campaigner Bono.

He is a friend of 83-year-old philanthropist Buffett, whose net worth is estimated at $59bn (£34bn). He has pledged to give much of his fortune away.

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