Essex Fire: Fund Set Up For Surviving Father

An appeal has been launched to raise funds to support a man who lost his wife and five children in a house fire.

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust launched the fund in a bid to help Dr Abdul Shakoor.

Dr Shakoor, who works at the hospital, lost his wife Sabah Usmani and children Hira, 12, Sohaib, 11, Muneeb, nine, Rayyan, six, and Maheen, three, in the blaze at their home in Harlow, Essex, on Monday.

Prayers have been said at the Harlow Islamic Centre in memory of the family in a show of support for Dr Shakoor.

Melanie Walker, the hospital's chief executive, expressed her condolences at the multi-faith ceremony.

"All of us have been saddened by this tragedy and as a close-knit hospital community, many of us know Dr Shakoor and have been overwhelmed by what has happened," she said.

Dr Shakoor and his wife Sabah Usmani

Zia Rehman, from the Islamic centre, said: "The community is deeply affected by this tragedy but they have all come together to share their grief and sorrow and to help in any way they can."

The aim of the fund is to support Dr Shakoor through a "very difficult time", a hospital spokesman said.

Essex Police initially treated the blaze as a suspected arson attack but no trace of an accelerant used to spark the flames has so far been found.

Although officers are continuing to investigate all possibilities it is now thought "increasingly likely" the fire was a tragic accident.

Cash donations will be accepted at the hospital's general office. Cheques made payable to PAH NHS Trust with the reference Dr Shakoor 9H50 will also be accepted.

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Malala Yusufzai: Shot Girl Stands In Hospital

Malala Yusufzai, the schoolgirl shot in the head by Taliban gunmen in Pakistan, has been able to stand with help for the first time in hospital in the UK.

Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital said the bullet which struck the 15-year-old just above her left eye had grazed the edge of her brain.

Speaking outside the hospital, Dr Dave Rosser, medical director of the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, said: "It's clear that Malala is not out of the woods yet.

"Having said that, she is doing very well. In fact she was standing with some help for the first time this morning when I went in to see her."

He also said she is able to communicate by writing notes.

Malala was flown to England and taken to Birmingham

Malala was flown to Birmingham on Monday to receive specialist "prolonged care" to help her recover.

The teenager was shot with two classmates as they made their way home from school in Swat, in the north west of Pakistan.

She was attacked by the Taliban for promoting the education of girls and criticising the militant group.

Foreign Secretary William Hague described the attack as "barbaric".

The hospital has received more than 2,300 messages of support for her.

Dr Rosser said Malala was happy for him to share details of her clinical care and wished to thank people around the world for their support.

He said she had the potential to make "pretty much a full recovery" but may not undergo reconstructive surgery for at least two weeks.

The hospital has received over 2,300 messages of support for Malala

"Malala is still showing some signs of infection which is probably related to the bullet track, which is our key source of concern," he said.

Although Malala is currently unable to talk due to a tracheostomy tube, Dr Rosser added: "She is communicating very freely, she is writing.

"Her airway was swollen by the passing of the bullet, so in order to protect her airway she had a tracheostomy tube.

"She is not able to talk, although we have no good reason to think that she wouldn't be able to talk once this tube is out, which may be in the next few days."

Giving details of the bullet wound - which came within inches of causing death - Dr Rosser said: "Malala was struck just above the back of the left eye.

"The bullet went down through the side of her jaw, damaging the skull and the jaw joint on the left hand side... went through the neck and lodged in the tissues above the shoulder blade.

"The bullet grazed the edge of her brain. Certainly if you're talking a couple of inches more central, then it's almost certainly an unsurvivable injury."

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Jimmy Savile Inquiry Now Criminal Investigaton

Judge To Lead BBC's Savile Inquiry

Updated: 6:46am UK, Wednesday 17 October 2012

Former High Court judge Dame Janet Smith will lead the BBC's internal inquiry into sex abuse claims against Jimmy Savile, it has been announced.

The corporation also revealed former head of Sky News Nick Pollard will head a review into Newsnight and its decision to axe an investigative report about the late presenter.

A statement issued by the BBC said the Pollard Review would "seek to establish whether there were any failings in the BBC's management of the Newsnight investigation" into claims against Savile - and in the broadcast of tribute programmes after his death.

Meanwhile, Dame Janet will head up a review into the culture and practices of the BBC during Savile's time there and look into whether the broadcaster's child protection and whistleblowing arrangements are "fit for purpose".

The Smith Review will begin only once police have indicated they are happy for it to proceed. Sky News understands Mr Pollard's investigation could start in the next few days.

Downing Street had previously indicated David Cameron could order a public inquiry into the scandal once the BBC and police investigations are concluded.

Number 10 insisted it was still an option after Labour led calls for the Government to set up an independent inquiry into the sex abuse allegations.

A spokesman said: "Nothing has been ruled out, but our view is it would be premature to prejudge the outcome of the two BBC inquiries and the police investigation."

The comments came after Culture Secretary Maria Miller appeared to rule out an independent inquiry as she expressed confidence that BBC chiefs were taking the claims "very seriously".

Labour leader Ed Miliband is insisting that the BBC's internal investigations are not enough and the victims deserve more.

He told Sky News on Tuesday: "I think we owe it to the victims to say 'look we are not going to have the institutions where the activities took place investigating themselves, we are going to have a separate inquiry across all those institutions'.

"I think they deserve truth and justice - and I think that is the best way of getting to it."

He had earlier told ITV1's The Agenda: "These are horrific allegations. In order to do right by the victims I don't think the BBC can lead their own inquiry.

"We need a broad look at all the public institutions involved - the BBC, parts of the NHS and Broadmoor. This has got to be independent."

Labour wants an independent inquiry that has the power to call for documents and summon witnesses and would look at Savile's activities at the BBC, Stoke Mandeville hospital and Broadmoor.

Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman also told Sky News on Tuesday that Savile's alleged victims would not be satisfied with the BBC investigating itself and insisted wider action was required.

"There was obviously a culture of silence which fermented a situation where more and more victims were able to be abused by Jimmy Savile," she said.

"Instead of just looking at the BBC, we need to look at those other organisations as well. Instead of a number of different inquiries, we need one inquiry to look at all these horrific allegations."

She added: "Until we have really got to the truth, then we can't ever be complacent that these sorts of things won't happen again."

Before Labour's demand, Ms Miller had rejected calls for an outside inquiry to restore the public's faith, warning it could hamper police investigations.

"In terms of a wider inquiry, we have a police investigation on-going at the moment," she said.

"Everybody would agree that it is really important that those individuals who have been victims know that that investigation can go on unfettered and that that should be our priority at this stage."

She cited the three separate internal investigations already launched by the BBC into the affair.

Police believe the DJ and television presenter's alleged catalogue of child sex abuse could have spanned six decades and included around 60 victims and are also investigating.

But former Met Police chief Sir Ian Blair has questioned the validity of a police investigation, given that Savile is no longer alive.

Appearing on Sky News, he said: "I don't quite know what this police inquiry is going to be into. They need to be taken seriously by the responsible authorities and when a man is dead, the police are not that person.

"It just seems to me that the police might be the right clearing house but this really is a matter for other authorities. Jimmy Savile is standing before a different tribunal now."

BBC director-general George Entwistle is due to appear before the Commons culture, media and sport select committee next week where he will face further questions about the affair.

Leeds North East MP Fabian Hamilton said his constituents, who turned out in their thousands to pay tribute to the broadcaster when he died, felt "betrayed and angry".

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Police: Torched Car Belongs To Missing Vet

Missing Irish Woman's Last Sighting

Updated: 6:16pm UK, Thursday 18 October 2012

CCTV footage of the last known sighting of a missing Irish woman feared to have been murdered in Wales has been released by police.

Catherine Gowing, 37, was captured on camera in an Asda store in Queensferry, Flintshire, at 8:06pm last Friday.

She had left the veterinary surgery in Mold where she worked at around 7pm wearing blue jeans, a light brown zip-up fleece top with white sleeves and white side panels and plain flat black shoes.

Ms Gowing was also carrying a bright brown saddle bag over her shoulder and was carrying an Asda plastic bag and a pizza-type box.

Her sister, Emma Gowing, appealed for help in finding her "beautiful sister", who is originally from Kinnity, Co Offaly.

In a statement, she said: "We are all so deeply shocked by the events that have unfolded in the last four days.

"Catherine's disappearance has left us all bereft. We are lost without her.

"Catherine is a kind sensitive beautiful person. She is passionate about animals and utterly devoted to her family. She is my best friend and the light of my life and my parents' lives."

Detective Superintendent John Hanson, of North Wales Police, said: "Co-ordinated searches continue at various locations in an attempt to find Catherine, her vehicle and personal items that appear to be missing from her home.

"Our priority is to trace Catherine and we would urge anyone who has seen her or her Renault Clio, bearing the Irish registration plates 00D 99970, to contact the North Wales Police incident room on 101.

"This is totally out of character for Catherine and the public's assistance in the search cannot be emphasised enough."

Ms Gowing is about 5ft 10in and of slim, athletic build. She speaks with an Irish accent.

Police believe that after finishing work, she drove home to Cae Isa, New Brighton, in her work car - a Vauxhall Corsa which has been recovered.

A 46-year-old man from Gwynedd is being held in connection with Ms Gowing's disappearance.

He appeared before Prestatyn magistrates on Thursday morning and a warrant for further detention was granted to North Wales Police, allowing him to be questioned until Friday evening.

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Ronnie Barker's Son Jailed For Indecent Images

By Nick Pisa, Sky Reporter

Comedian Ronnie Barker's son has been given a 12 month jail sentence after he admitted child pornography charges.

Adam Barker, 44, of no fixed abode, skipped bail and fled to Hungary after police raided his home in June 2003 as part of a huge countrywide clampdown on child pornography. 

The operation was undertaken in conjunction with the FBI who had provided details of people using credit cards to download offending images.

When officers arrived at his then home in Ealing, he was asked if he had any child pornography and admitted there ''were somethings on the computer'' and when told they would take it away he replied it would be a ''dereliction of duty'' if they did not.

Initially he was given bail as police graded the 1,675 images and videos that they found, the majority showing pre-teen boys and he had been due to report back to police in June 2004. 

Instead he escaped to Hungary where he lived the last eight years in Budapest, in what his defence lawyer Simon Ray, today told Isleworth Crown Court was a ''self imposed exile.''

During his time his father Ronnie, best known for his portray of jailbird Fletch in the long running comedy series Porridge; died as did his mother Joy and there was no contact between him and any of his family.  He missed both their funerals.

The actor, also famous for The Two Ronnies and Open All Hours. never spoke publicly about his youngest child's disappearance although the court heard how Barker had written a letter to his parents before fleeing the country, in which he said he was ''sorry for being foolish'' and he thanked them for being ''great parents'.'

But he added he had to ''go away'' and would not be contacting them ''for quite some time.''

Prosecutor Ravinder Johal told the court that Barker had returned to Britain in July of this year, as he had run out of money and he surrendered himself to police.

He was charged him with 20 counts of child pornography and appeared in court last month, pleading guilty to obtaining the images between January 1999 and June 2003.

At today's sentencing, Her Honour Judge Dean said he would have been jailed for 18 months but took into account his guilty plea and previous good character. She also relied on a pre-sentence report which ruled that Barker was classed a medium risk of sexual offending again and a low risk of using violence.

Barker was told that he would be placed on the sex offenders register and that he would be banned from working with children and his use of the internet would also be strictly controlled.

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Osborne Forced To Pay Train Ticket Upgrade

George Osborne has been forced to pay for a £160 train ticket upgrade after he sat in a first class seat with only a standard ticket.

The Chancellor boarded the train to Euston at Wilmslow, Cheshire, before settling into first class with his special adviser.

He was then challenged by a ticket collector who refused to allow the Chancellor to remain in his premium-priced seat - unless he paid the extra cost.

His special adviser reportedly said Mr Osborne could not possibly remove himself to sit among the general public in standard class for the two-hour journey to London.

Sky News Deputy Political Editor Joey Jones said a "disagreement" occurred on the train about whether Mr Osborne should move to a standard seat, or pay for the upgrade.

"The Chancellor ... was on his way back from Wilmslow to London Euston and there's quite a flurry on because it turns out that he was not apparently sitting in the part of the train that he was entitled to sit in," Jones said.

"According to Virgin Trains, he had a standard class ticket, but he sat down in the first class part of the train.

"In the end he has paid quite a substantial sum ... to make sure that he is able to sit in the first class part of the train."

Responding to the incident, Labour's shadow cabinet office minister Michael Dugher, said: "Another day, another demonstration of how out of touch this Government is.

"Just like Andrew Mitchell, George Osborne obviously thinks it's one rule for him and another for the plebs he's so keen to sit apart from," he added.

RMT leader Bob Crow said: "This says it all about this rotten government. Here we have a millionaire chancellor who thinks he's above the normal rules and laws. George Osborne attempting to bunk first class is this ConDem administration in a nut shell."

There has yet to be any comment from Mr Osborne.

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Beirut Car Bomb: Security Official Among Dead

A top Lebanese security official is among eight people killed by a car bomb in the country's capital Beirut.

Wissam al Hassan died in the rush-hour bomb in the city's east - which also wounded some 80 people - heightening fears that the Syrian civil war is spilling over into Lebanon.

Al Hassan's investigations had implicated Syria and Hizbollah in the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri seven years ago.

He had also uncovered a recent bomb plot that led to the arrest of a pro-Syrian Lebanese politician, according to a Lebanese official.

He was a close aide to Hariri, a Sunni Muslim who was killed in a 2005 bomb attack in downtown Beirut.

Friday's bombing was the city's first major car bomb attack since 2008.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said the blast, in the mainly Christian east Beirut, took place only 200 yards from the headquarters of the Christian party, the Phalange.

A wounded woman near the site of the explosion

The party is hostile to the regime of President Bashar al Assad in neighbouring Syria, which is mired in a lengthy civil war.

But Syrian information minister Omran al Zoabie told reporters: "We condemn this terrorist explosion and all these explosions wherever they happen. Nothing justifies them."

Michael Fish, 25, a British musician visiting Beirut, said he was in his hotel a street away when the explosion happened.

"At first I thought it was an earthquake," he said.

"It shook the whole hotel for a second. I ran down and started filming on my iPhone."

The AFP news agency reported that two apartment buildings had been devastated by the bombing in a narrow street off Sassine Square in Ashrafieh. One building was still on fire as Red Cross workers evacuated bloodied casualties.

Balconies were torn off by the force of the blast, windows shattered and cars crushed by falling masonry.

Phalange leader Sami al Gemayel, a staunch opponent of Mr Assad and a member of parliament, condemned the attack.

"Let the state protect the citizens," he said.

"We will not accept any procrastination in this matter, we cannot continue like that. We have been warning for a year. Enough."

The war in Syria, which has killed 30,000 people in the past 19 months, has pitted mostly Sunni insurgents against Mr Assad, who is from the Alawite sect linked to Shi'ite Islam.

Interior minister Marwan Sharbel was also at the scene of the bombing. The previous such attack in Beirut, in January 2008, killed Lebanon's top anti-terrorism investigator and three other people.

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Halliwell Gets Life For Clubber Sian's Murder

A man who admitted killing nightclubber Sian O'Callaghan has had a second murder charge dropped due to controversial police actions.

Christopher Halliwell, 48, was jailed for life and will serve a minimum of 25 years behind bars after pleading guilty to murdering Miss O'Callaghan during a hearing at Bristol Crown Court.

Taxi driver Halliwell, of Swindon, was also accused of murdering Becky Godden-Edwards but that charge was withdrawn following a ruling by a High Court judge.

It came after one of the country's leading detectives, Detective Superintendent Stephen Fulcher, disregarded legal requirements on the questioning of suspects. The officer failed to caution him and denied him a solicitor.

As a result, Halliwell's confession to Mr Fulcher and the fact he took police to the exact spot where he had buried Ms Godden-Edwards - who had been missing since 2003 - could not be used as evidence in court.

Halliwell was arrested at a supermarket in Swindon on suspicion of kidnapping Miss O'Callaghan on March 24, 2011 - five days after she disappeared.

Instead of being taken to the nearby Gablecross police station for formal questioning, he was taken to meet Mr Fulcher at Barbury Castle in Wiltshire, where police suspected Miss O'Callaghan might be.

Sian O'Callaghan's body was discovered in Uffington, Oxfordshire

Mr Fulcher then conducted a series of extraordinary private interviews with Halliwell over more than three hours.

Halliwell led police to Miss O'Callaghan's body in Uffington, Oxfordshire, and then to Miss Godden-Edwards' body at Eastleach in Gloucestershire.

At a pre-trial hearing that journalists could not report on until now, Halliwell's defence barrister, Richard Latham QC, claimed Mr Fulcher resorted to "good old-fashioned threatening conduct" in order to force information out of him.

Mr Fulcher admitted that he did not caution Halliwell or offer him a solicitor - breaking the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE).

As a result all the evidence gathered by Mr Fulcher during those three and a quarter hours was deemed inadmissible - meaning that the charge of the murder of Miss Godden-Edwards was formally dropped.

Police have vowed to get justice for her and revealed Mr Fulcher has been suspended pending an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) into allegations of "inappropriate contact with the media".

Miss O'Callaghan, 22, disappeared after leaving Swindon's Suju nightclub in the early hours of March 19 last year.

Hundreds of volunteers turned out at Savernake Forest to help in the search for her but she was found dead in Uffington on March 24.

Miss O'Callaghan left the nightclub at 2.53am to walk the short distance to the home she shared with boyfriend Kevin Reape.

Shortly after she walked past the Goddard Arms on the High Street in the Old Town area, she got into Halliwell's taxi.

He had signed off from work earlier that night but, instead of going home, he cruised the streets of Swindon in his green Toyota Avensis taxi looking for a victim.

Becky Godden-Edwards' body was found at Eastleach in Gloucestershire

The court heard that he took Miss O'Callaghan, an office worker, to Savernake Forest where he murdered her.

In the 24 hours after Miss O'Callaghan was abducted, Halliwell made four visits to the area where her body had been hidden.

Prosecutor Ian Lawrie QC told the court: "He had carried out a reconnaissance for a possible deposition site for Sian O'Callaghan."

By the early hours of March 21, Halliwell had moved Miss O'Callaghan's body from Savernake Forest to the spot where it was later found.

Miss O'Callaghan's body was discovered lying face down and naked from her waist to her ankles.

A post-mortem found she had died from the combined effects of two stab wounds to the head and neck, as well as compression to the neck.

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Andrew Mitchell Resigns After 'Plebs' Row

Andrew Mitchell has resigned from his role as the Government's Chief Whip.

The resignation follows claims he described police officers guarding Downing Street as "plebs".

Writing to the Prime Minister, Mr Mitchell said: "It is with enormous regret - not least because of the tremendous support and loyalty you have shown me during recent weeks - that I am writing to resign as your Chief Whip."

"Over the last two days it has become clear to me that whatever the rights and wrongs of the matter I will not be able to fulfil my duties as we would wish. Nor is it fair to continue to put my family and colleagues through this upsetting and damaging publicity."

"I have made clear to you - and I give you my categorical assurance again - that I did not, never have and never would call a police officer a "pleb" or a "moron" or used any of the other pejorative descriptions attributed to me."  

The offending comment and the reason for my apology to the police was my parting remark 'I thought you guys were supposed to f****** help us'.  It was obviously wrong of me to use such bad language and I am very sorry about it and grateful to the police officer for accepting my apology."

In a letter from the Prime Minister, David Cameron said: "I understand why you have reached the conclusion you have, and why you have reached the conclusion you have, and why you have decided to resign from the Government."

"I regret that this has become necessary, and I am very grateful for all you have done, both in Government and in Opposition - as well as for the kind words in your letter."

The Prime Minister later adds: "As you have acknowledged, the incident in Downing Street was not acceptable and you were right to apologise for it."

More to follow.

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Eleven Injured In 'Hit And Run' Crashes

A man has been arrested after 11 people were hurt in a series of "hit and run" car accidents in the Welsh capital, Cardiff.

The casualties, who included children, were taken to the city's University Hospital of Wales.

The accident and emergency department was only dealing with those injured in the crashes, and it was closed to other admissions.

There were reportedly around five different crashes in the Ely and Leckwith areas.

Police were at a number of locations including Crossways Road, Cowbridge Road West, Grand Avenue, and Sloper Road, and have advised motorists to avoid the areas.

The ages and conditions of those injured have not been confirmed.

Police said there were "a number of casualties" and witnesses said they saw "at least seven ambulances" in the Ely area.

A 31-year-old man has been arrested and a van was seized.

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Blind Man Tasered As Cops Mistake Stick For Sword

A "terrified" blind man was hit with a 50,000 volt Taser gun after police mistook his white stick for a samurai sword.

Stroke victim Colin Farmer, 61, collapsed to the ground in shock after he was hit in the back with the gun while walking down the street in Chorley, Lancashire.

Police had received reports of a man walking through the town armed with the deadly martial arts weapon and raced to the scene to hunt down the offender.

Meanwhile Mr Farmer, who has suffered two strokes and walks at a "snail's pace", was on his way to the pub to meet friends for a drink and was unaware of the reports.

He had no idea a police officer had mistaken his thin white stick for a weapon and ordered him to stop before pulling the trigger on the Taser gun.

Mr Farmer cried out, "I'm blind! I'm blind!" while collapsed on the floor but was still handcuffed by the officer from Lancashire Police.

"The whole thing was like being trapped in a nightmare," he told the Chorley Guardian.

Mr Farmer said he heard shouting on the street but did not know what it was about and thought he was about to be "attacked by some hooligans".

He was then struck by the Taser and fell to the ground, dropping his white stick on the floor before a policeman handcuffed him.

He was taken to Chorley Hospital for treatment and was later released following the incident at about 5.45pm last Friday.

Chief Superintendent Stuart Williams, from Lancashire Police, said: "We received a number of reports that a man was walking through Chorley armed with a samurai sword and patrols were sent to look for the man.

"One of the officers believed he had located the offender. Despite asking the man to stop, he failed to do so and the officer discharged his Taser.

"It then became apparent this man was not the person we were looking for and officers attended to him straight away.

"He was taken Chorley Hospital by officers who stayed while he was checked over by medics. They then took him to meet his friends in Chorley at his request.

"Lancashire Constabulary deeply regrets what has happened. We have clearly put this man through a traumatic experience and we are extremely sorry.

"We have launched an urgent investigation to understand what lessons can be learned and the matter has also been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission."

Mr Farmer is reportedly considering legal action against the force.

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Polls Give Obama Win Over Romney In TV Debate

By Greg Milam, Washington correspondent

President Barack Obama reignited his re-election campaign with a much-improved performance against rival Mitt Romney in the pair's second live televised debate.

After Mr Obama's lacklustre performance in the first of three debates, most observers - backed by anecdotal instant polls - suggested the President had won Tuesday night's dual.

The early opinion polls also suggested Mr Romney had done enough to score some points and potentially maintain his momentum.

Both sides dispatched their 'surrogates' to claim victory on the morning TV shows.

And the pair's spat over Libya continued on the morning airwaves, with both sides claiming the other was not being straight with the American public.

The exchange saw the President stare directly at the Republican challenger and rebuke him over his criticism of the White House's handling of an attack on the US consulate in Benghazi on September 11, which killed four Americans.

"The suggestion that anybody on my team... would play politics or mislead when we've lost four of our own, governor, is offensive," Mr Obama said, wagging his finger at Romney across the stage.

"That's not what we do. That's not what I do as president, not what I do as commander-in-chief."

The President appeared more animated in the second debate

Mr Romney attempted to hit back by accusing the President of taking days to recognise that the attack, which killed US ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens, was terrorism and not a protest that got out of hand.

The Republican implied Mr Obama had not labelled the attack an "act of terror" during an address he gave the day after the deaths - directly contradicting the President's account.

"Check the transcript," said Mr Obama.

CNN moderator Candy Crowley immediately confirmed the President's version of events - leaving Mr Romney stuttering awkwardly.

But polling suggests Americans would rather hear more about economic plans than foreign policy.

They got an early chance to register their opinions on the debate as Obama took his campaign to the battleground states of Iowa and Ohio, while Mr Romney headed to campaign in Virginia.

Pollsters will be looking for the reaction among suburban women voters who are increasingly seen as the key demographic in this election.

Newspapers in New York, where the debate took place, suggested the president would be happier with the second head-to-head.

"Mr Obama emerged from the debate having claimed a new chance to frame the three weeks until election day," said the New York Times.

The tabloid New York Post put it more bluntly: "Hey, O shows up this time - gives as good as he gets against Mitt."

In swing state Ohio, the Columbus Dispatch said: "Obama more feisty, Romney pushes back."

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Gatwick Airport Planning Second Runway

Gatwick Airport bosses have started to draw up detailed options for a new runway which could help resolve the UK's air capacity crisis.

But Gatwick said it would honour a 1979 legal agreement that states no runway can be built at the West Sussex airport before 2019.

The options, to be submitted to a Government-appointed aviation commission, will assess the environmental and economic impacts of a new runway.

The chief executive of Gatwick, which serves 197 destinations and handles around 34 million passengers a year, said a new runway would benefit passengers.

"I believe a new runway at Gatwick could be affordable, practical and give passengers a greater choice of routes to key markets," Stewart Wingate said.

"We have the space, capability and access to financial resources."

London's busiest airport, Heathrow, is operating close to full capacity after the Government blocked a third runway because of the resulting increase in planes flying over the city.

Mr Wingate said a new runway at Gatwick had "clear practical advantages" over expansion at Heathrow.

"When compared with a third runway at Heathrow, we would have a significantly lower environmental impact whilst adding significantly more capacity," he said.

He added that it would also be preferable to other London alternatives.

"Stansted is half empty today, we already have much better surface transport links and feel our business case will be much stronger," he said.

"As for the Estuary airport concepts, there are major questions on affordability, environmental issues and whether they are deliverable."

But the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign has always been opposed to a second runway at the airport on environmental grounds.

"We have had massive support from across Surrey, Sussex and west Kent," Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign's chairman, Brendon Sewill, said following the announcement.

"We have been supported by all the local MPs and all the county, district and parish councils in a wide area.

"If necessary, we will resume the battle."

Gatwick has safeguarded the land that would be required for a new runway since it was bought by Global Infrastructure Partners in 2009.

It estimates that for the rest of this decade, London's airports will be relying on their existing physical capacity.

As such, its submission to the commission will evaluate how the capacity of its existing runway can be maximised.

It will also argue that a second runway would help ensure that London's airports provide the South East and the rest of UK with the connectivity needed in the future.

The commission, led by the former head of the Financial Services Authority Sir Howard Davies, will make its full report into the South East's airport capacity in 2015.

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Savile's Aide 'Lost For Words' Over Claims

A woman who worked for the late Jimmy Savile for more than 30 years has said she is "lost for words" at the accusations against him.

Janet Cope, 70, said initially she could not believe what was being said about the former TV presenter - but now believes even she may have been duped.

In an interview with the Daily Mirror, Ms Cope admitted her former employer believed he was "untouchable" and was hugely controlling.

"Never risk being caught out," he explained. "Always ensure that you're in total control of any situation."

Ms Cope, who was Savile's PA for 32 years until she was sacked by him in 2001, described him as "eccentric and manipulative".

"He was always photographed with what he called dolly birds because he was terrified of growing old or being seen as old," the former PA went on.

Jimmy Savile at his prime as a Top Of The Pops presenter

"Image was vital to him. He was like Peter Pan, forever surrounding himself with youngsters. It was his elixir.

"On the face of it Jim led a celibate, nomadic and simple life which may have disguised a more sordid double life. I don't know, but he was clever enough to believe he'd get away with it and, if he did, he fooled me and many others.

Ms Cope - who learned she was losing her job when Savile abruptly said publicly at a meeting with Stoke Mandeville doctors "She's out" - still has trouble believing the TV star could have done the things he was accused of.

"He was a very, very clever man and if he could keep something like that covered up, he was even more clever than I gave him credit for.

"And it bothers me now because we rubbed along together for so many years, getting things done together."

Ms Cope did recall his terrible temper, suggesting he had used it to frighten and control everyone from hospital staff to fundraisers. Answering him back, she explained, would have been "more than my life was worth".

"I was frightened to death of him and I wasn't the only one. He loved the power he had over people.

"He didn't care if he upset people. Jim had no feeling, no emotions at all. He was a little distressed when his mother died, but that was the only time I ever saw any emotion. Nothing could hurt him."

A former barrister has been brought in to oversee the investigations into Savile at Stoke Mandeville, Broadmoor and Leeds General Infirmary.

Kate Lampard will provide "independent oversight" of the inquiries, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said on Wednesday.

The former deputy chair of the Financial Ombudsman Service was appointed by the Department of Health to keep a check on the three investigations.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "The Health Secretary has appointed Kate Lampard - a former practising barrister and former deputy chair of the Financial Ombudsman Service - to oversee the Department of Health's, and three NHS Trusts' input into the ongoing inquiries relating to Jimmy Savile's involvement with the NHS.

"She will provide oversight of the Stoke Mandeville, Leeds General Infirmary and Broadmoor inquiries as well as the Department of Health's inquiries into the appointment and role Savile held at Broadmoor Hospital.

"All relevant information from these inquiries will be passed to the police."

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Energy Bills: Cameron Promises New Laws

Energy firms will be forced to give customers the cheapest available tariff under new laws, David Cameron has announced.

Amid mounting concern about the soaring cost of power, the Prime Minister vowed to legislate to tackle the often-confusing array of prices.

"I can announce that we will be legislating so that energy companies have to give the lowest tariff to their customers," he told MPs during Prime Minister's Questions.

His intervention follows a string of above-inflation price hikes by major energy companies in recent days.

Ministers have previously encouraged customers to shop around to make sure they have the best deal.

They have also announced moves to require energy companies to inform their customers if they could be on cheaper tariffs.

But the forthcoming Energy Bill will go further by introducing a requirement for companies to give people the best tariff for their circumstances.

The announcement came after consumer body Which? called for an urgent independent review into the rising cost of household energy bills.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said the energy market was "broken".

A review was needed to look at rising prices and whether competition between suppliers could be made to work more effectively to help consumers, he insisted.

With the average bill up 13% since a Government energy summit a year ago, "it is no wonder consumers tell us that energy prices are one of their top financial concerns," he said.

He claimed there was little evidence that the Government was living up to its promise to make energy companies more competitive, with 75% of consumers on the most expensive tariff, and the numbers switching suppliers continuing to decline.

Mr Lloyd said people were questioning whether they were being fairly charged for gas and electricity, as companies blamed wholesale price rises and the cost of implementing environmental and social policies for bill increases.

He added: "The time for action is now. Warm words alone are not enough to keep consumers from the cold this winter."

A spokesman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change said: "Households facing rising energy bills this winter aren't going to be helped by more inquiries or investigations that could take years to complete and implement.

"We know what the problems are, we want to get on with tackling them now. We're focusing on action, not more words.

"The fact is reforms by Government and Ofgem, including electricity market reform through the forthcoming Energy Bill and Ofgem's ongoing Retail Market Review, offer the quickest way to boost consumer confidence in the energy market."

Shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint said: "Which? are right to say that Britain's energy market is not working in the public interest.

"For too long energy companies have been able to get away with blaming wholesale prices when bills go up, but failing to pass on savings when wholesale prices fall."

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Andrew Mitchell: Miliband Says 'He's Toast'

Labour leader Ed Miliband has mocked Tory Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell during Prime Minister's Questions and declared "he's toast".

Prime Minister David Cameron was forced to defend the senior Tory yet again as his row with a policeman dominated the first PMQs session for more than a month.

Mr Miliband sought to use the affair to show that the Tories are a party of the privileged minority who want to live by different rules to the rest of the country.

"If a yob in a city centre on a Saturday night abused a police officer, ranting and raving, the chances are they would be arrested and placed in the back of a police car and rightly so," he said.

"The Prime Minister would be the first in the queue to say it was right. But while it's a night in the cell for the yobs, it's a night in the Carlton Club for the Chief Whip. Isn't that the clearest case there could be of total double standards?"

Mr Cameron retorted: "He wants to discuss these issues because he has nothing to say about the country."

But the Labour leader continued: "They say that I practise class war and they go round calling people plebs.

"It is good to see the Cabinet supporting him in public but what are they saying in private: 'He's completely undermined, his position is untenable.'

"In other words, he's toast. That is the reality. While everybody else loses their jobs, the Chief Whip keeps his. If you're a millionaire you get a tax cut, if you're anyone else you get a tax rise."

Labour leader Ed Miliband was on the attack

The Prime Minister admitted yet again that his Chief Whip had been wrong but insisted his apology had been accepted by police chiefs and that it was time to move on.

"This Government will get on with the big issues of helping Britain compete and succeed in the world," he told MPs.

Mr Mitchell looked uncomfortable as he watched the clash from the frontbenches. At one point, he appeared to deny having sworn at police.

He shook his head, apparently mouthing "I didn't, I didn't" as Mr Miliband said that people who swear at police should expect to be arrested.

This sparked more raised eyebrows, with Tory MP Michael Fabricant claiming the Chief Whip had reignited the row himself after previously admitting he had sworn.

Sky's Deputy Political Editor Joey Jones says there is now an increasing push to oust the Chief Whip over the affair.

"The constant and agonising undercurrent for the Conservative Party at the moment is about the position of the Chief Whip. It is becoming a huge preoccupation for MPs and ministers," he said.

"Utterly authoritative sources tell me that senior Conservative ministers are beyond despair at the situation, which they can see just dragging on and becoming a huge distraction."

David Cameron insisted it was time to move on

Mr Mitchell faces another serious test later when the 1922 Committee meets and party members are given a chance to state their views.

He will not attend the session but it is believed that he will meet with the committee's executive afterwards where he will be made aware of the mood.

The senior Tory has been clinging to his job, which he only took on in the recent reshuffle, since it emerged he had rowed with a policeman on September 19.

He ranted at the officer at the Downing Street gates when he was told he could not cycle out of the main entrance.

Mr Mitchell has denied calling the police "plebs" during the argument but his account conflicts with the official police record.

He failed to quell the row with a lacklustre apology live on Sky News and then stayed away from the Tory conference last week to avoid being a "distraction".

The Opposition has already tabled a motion calling for Mr Mitchell to be docked £1,000 from his salary - roughly the same amount he would have been fined for swearing at an officer.

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April Cops: 'We'll Search Until Christmas'

The search for missing April Jones could continue until Christmas and beyond, police have said.

Major search efforts to find the five-year-old schoolgirl are ongoing, and Dyfed Powys Police say the hunt may not end for months.

"We said goodbye to 150 officers this morning and they've been replaced by another 150 specialists," Superintendent Ian John said, speaking from April's home town of Machynlleth.

"Numbers may fluctuate a bit on a daily basis, but whilst we still have viable lines of inquiry, we will continue to search.

"We could still be here at Christmas or the new year, we could be finished in two weeks."

He added: "The numbers involved in searching are always under review.

"Hopefully we will find April soon. We are not going anywhere until we have done our job.

"We are here for the long-term if we need to be."

He said that specialist searches from 16 separate police forces were helping in the ongoing hunt for April.

They were backed up by fire service urban area search and rescue teams, hazardous area search teams and teams from the ambulance service.

Mountain rescue teams were brought back in over the weekend as different terrain was encountered and closely searched.

Specialists capable of working in confined areas such as pot holes, caves ana mine shafts are used when needed.

Hazards for which the experts need to be prepared include encountering gases such as methane which have built up.

While a myriad of tunnels and shafts are explored underground, commercial volunteers are helping with aerial searches.

Private planes full of technology otherwise unavailable to the police have been helping to spot promising areas to search.

Sonar technology and specialist equipment which can pinpoint heat signatures from the air are being used. The data it produces is closely examined and used to target specific areas to search.

April was last seen on October 1 on the Bryn-y-Gog estate where she lived.

The youngster, who suffers from cerebral palsy, was out late on her bike as a treat for getting a good school report earlier that day.

Mark Bridger, 46, from Machynlleth, has been charged with April's murder and abduction.

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Nike Cancels Lance Armstrong Contract

Nike has terminated its contract with former champion cyclist Lance Armstrong as he prepares to step down as chairman of his Livestrong cancer-fighting charity.

Last week the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) released a massive report detailing allegations of widespread performance-enhancing drug use by Armstrong.

The document included testimony from 11 former teammates. Usada has ordered for 14 years of Armstrong's career results to be erased, including his seven Tour de France titles.

In a statement the sportswear firm said: "Due to the seemingly insurmountable evidence that Lance Armstrong participated in doping and misled Nike for more than a decade, it is with great sadness that we have terminated our contract with him.

"Nike does not condone the use of illegal performance enhancing drugs in any manner.

"Nike plans to continue support of the Livestrong initiatives created to unite, inspire and empower people affected by cancer. "

The announcement came minutes after Armstrong quit as chairman of his Livestrong cancer-fighting charity.

He said: "I have had the great honour of serving as this foundation's chairman for the last five years and its mission and success are my top priorities.

"Today therefore, to spare the foundation any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding my cycling career, I will conclude my chairmanship."

The Lance Armstrong Foundation, commonly known as Livestrong, was founded in 1997 and has raised roughly $500m (£309m) to support cancer patients.

The group has scheduled its 15th anniversary celebration for this weekend. Armstrong will stay on the charity's board.

The cancer survivor strongly denies doping and says he stopped fighting Usada because its hearing process was unfair.

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No Verdict In Mark Duggan Handgun Case

A jury has failed to reach a verdict in the case of a man accused of supplying a gun to Mark Duggan, whose fatal shooting by police sparked the Tottenham riots.

Kevin Hutchinson-Foster, 30, was charged with passing the gun to Mr Duggan just 15 minutes before he was shot dead by police on August 4 last year.

But a jury of seven men and five women at Snaresbrook Crown Court was unable to reach a verdict after nearly 21 hours of deliberations.

Judge David Radford had allowed them to reach a majority verdict of 10-2 or 11-1, but he discharged them after they were unable to come to a decision.

A re-trial will be held at a date to be set. An administrative hearing will take place on November 2.

Mr Duggan's death in Ferry Lane, Tottenham, sparked riots which swept across the capital and the country.

Armed police, who gave evidence anonymously, told the court that they opened fire on Mr Duggan because they saw him get out of the cab holding a loaded gun.

The officer who shot Mr Duggan twice said he opened fire because he thought he and his colleagues were themselves going to be shot.

Mr Duggan, who was under police surveillance on August 4 and the previous day, had gone in the minicab to Leyton, east London, where he collected the gun in a shoebox from Hutchinson-Foster, before continuing to Tottenham, prosecutors said.

The cab was pulled over by armed police in four unmarked cars in what is termed a "hard stop" and, according to officers, Mr Duggan got out with the gun in his hand, prompting them to shoot him.

Hutchinson-Foster, of no fixed address, denied a single charge of "selling or transferring a prohibited firearm" to Mr Duggan between July 28 and August 5, 2011.

He claimed his DNA was found on the gun because he had used it six days earlier to beat a man, but said he returned it the same day.

He claimed he and Mr Duggan had been in mobile phone contact with each other because Mr Duggan wanted his help in setting up a drug deal.

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Fifa Boss 'Saddened' At Serbia Racism Row

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has spoken out about racism in football after allegations of racist chanting during an England U21 game.

The 76-year-old avoided commenting directly on claims of racist chanting directed at English players during the game in Serbia on Tuesday night.

But he tweeted twice and called for discrimination to be "eradicated".

He wrote: "Saddened every time I hear about racist incidents in football.

"We must keep fighting to eradicate discrimination from our sport. Kick racism out of football."

It comes after the Serbian FA denied allegations of racist chanting during the playoff game, which England won 1-0 to go through to the European Championship finals.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter said he was "saddened" by racism in football

The Serbian FA also claimed England player Danny Rose behaved in a "vulgar" manner towards its fans. Rose was sent off after the final whistle.

In a statement on its website, the Serbian FA said: "(The) FA of Serbia absolutely refuses (sic) and denies that there were any occurrences of racism before and during the match at the stadium in Krusevac.

"Making connection between the seen incident - a fight between members of the two teams - and racism has absolutely no ground and we consider it to be a total malevolence.

"Unfortunately, after the fourth minute of the additional time and the victory goal scored by the guest team, unpleasant scenes were seen on the pitch.

"And while most of the English team players celebrated the score, their player number three, Danny Rose, behaved in inappropriate, unsportsmanlike and vulgar manner towards the supporters on the stands at the stadium in Krusevac, and for that he was shown a red card."

The Serbian FA said preliminary reports from the match officials made no mention of racism and added: "We expect that the human and sports culture of our football friends from England will win over the spread of misinformation."

Rose was controversially sent off by the referee after responding angrily to the abuse and kicking a ball into the crowd.

The English FA and Prime Minister David Cameron have called for UEFA to investigate allegations that England players were subjected to racist chants and pelted with seats, coins and stones during the play-off.

In amateur footage of the scuffles that broke out following England's winning goal, monkey chants are clearly audible.

Rose told Sky Sports News: "I just expressed my emotions as soon as we scored.

"Next thing I turned round and all the Serbian players have surrounded me, pushing me, and then a brawl broke out.

"I remember getting slapped twice and then I got ushered away. That's when I kicked the ball and the referee's sent me off.

"As I was walking off there was monkey chanting - but the monkey chanting started long before I got sent off."

He added: "They have to be banned."

England's players were incensed by the racist abuse

Downing Street said Prime Minister David Cameron was "appalled" by the scenes at the end of the match and wants Uefa to impose tough sanctions if racism is proved.

Sports minister Hugh Robertson has also written to Uefa president Michel Platini urging tough action following the "disgraceful scenes".

Captain Jordan Henderson praised his players for their reaction to the alleged racist abuse and called on Uefa to take the appropriate action.

The Football Association reported "a number of incidents of racism" to Uefa after ugly scenes marred a 1-0 win for Stuart Pearce's team in the second leg of their play-off.

FA general secretary Alex Horne said: "We call on UEFA to take the strongest possible action against the Serbian FA, their supporters and anyone found guilty of being involved in the numerous instances of violence and abuse."

Liverpool midfielder Henderson said on www.thefa.com: "There was a lot of racist abuse out there from the stands and a lot going on after the game, which is hard to take for the players."

The brawl broke out when supporters invaded the field moments after Connor Wickham's stoppage-time goal secured a 2-0 aggregate win and a place at next year's finals in Israel.

Henderson added: "The players coped with the abuse really well. It's not nice. They kept their heads and were professional.

"I thought our players were brilliant and conducted themselves very well. The players completely condemn what happened.

"There were also stones, coins and seats getting thrown at us. I didn't understand why Danny Rose was sent off at the end - I didn't see he did anything wrong, other than get abused."

A statement from the FA read: "The FA condemns both the scenes of racism and the confrontation at the final whistle during which time our players and staff were under extreme provocation.

"The FA has reported a number of incidents of racism to Uefa following the fixture.

"These were seemingly aimed at a number of black England players by the crowd. The matter is now with Uefa."

England manager Stuart Pearce said Serbia's technical director Savo Milosevic had visited the England dressing room to apologise.

"I never like to see any football matches end like that," Pearce told ESPN.

"I think there were one or two racist incidents that came on from the crowd. It's in (Uefa's) hands now.

"It's very sad, to be fair, but we're united as a team. I'm very proud of the reaction of our players."

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