Young People Trapped In Rental 'Black Hole'

Most young people have little or no hope they will ever be able to afford a home, a new poll suggests.

Seven out of 10 non-homeowners aged between 18 and 24 rated their prospects of buying a house or flat no better than "not very confident", according to research by the Local Government Association (LGA).

Of those who are more confident about their chances of escaping the rental "black hole", many are adamant they would need help from their parents.

Yet the two-thirds (64%) who said they would need financial support from family members to climb onto the property ladder may find money is difficult to come by.

Nearly four-in-10 (36%) parents saying they do not plan, or will not be able to, give their children a helping hand.

Cllr David Sparks, chairman of the LGA, said the figures lay bare the full extent of the "housing crisis" - one of a raft of topics up for discussion on Sky's Stand Up Be Counted site, a new platform for 16-25-year-olds to have their say on the issues that matter most to them.

Sky's Consumer Affairs Correspondent Poppy Trowbridge kicked off the debate, asking young people whether they think their parents had an easier time getting on the property ladder.

She also pointed to data from estate agents Your Move and Reeds Rains, which suggests the average first-time buyer deposit is now £26,642.

"What would you give up to get that?" she asks. "Does having a home that you own matter to you? Or these days, do you have different priorities?"

Young people can have their say on the housing market or any other issue affecting them by uploading a short video or blog post to Stand Up Be Counted.

Backed by politicians and celebrities alike, the website already contains dozens of clips and articles on topics ranging from e-voting, exam results and equality to mental health, the environment and the impact of social media.

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Woman In Court Over Pennie Davis Fatal Stabbing

A woman has appeared in court charged in connection with the murder of a mother-of-five in the New Forest.

Pennie Davis, 47, had been tending her two horses in a paddock near Beaulieu, Hampshire, when she was fatally stabbed on September 2.

Leanne Doyle, 24, of Beech Crescent, Hythe, appeared at Winchester Crown Court accused of assisting an offender and intending to pervert the course of justice.

She was released on bail and will reappear at the same court on October 1, police said.

On Tuesday night, detectives arrested a 36-year-old man on suspicion of Mrs Davis' murder. He remains in police custody.

A 22-year-old man previously arrested on suspicion of murder and a 37-year-old man arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender have both been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Mrs Davis suffered multiple stab wounds and her body was found by her husband Pete.

She worked in a supermarket and married just four months ago.

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'Solid Family' Massacred On Australian Farm

By Jonathan Samuels, Australia Correspondent

Police divers have found the body of a man at a dam in Australia after a woman and her three children were discovered shot dead at a remote farmhouse.

Farmer Geoff Hunt has been missing since the bodies of his wife Kim, 41, and his children Fletcher, 10, Mia, eight and Phoebe, six, were found at a property near Wagga Wagga in New South Wales on Tuesday.

Divers at Lockhart Dam, not far from the farmhouse, found a gun on the dead man and police said the body had injuries "not inconsistent" with wounds found on the woman and children.

Police earlier on Wednesday described the death scene of the mother and her three young children as "horrific" and like nothing they had ever encountered.

"I don't think even the most hardened professional could remain unmoved by what's out there," Wagga Wagga local area commander Superintendent Bob Noble said.

"It's certainly not something I've encountered anything similar to before, and I hope not to ever again."

Local media reported the alarm was raised when the children failed to turn up to school.

The fatal shootings happened at a property near Wagga Wagga

Emergency services were called to the farmhouse on Tuesday afternoon and found the children's bodies inside the property and their mother on the path outside.

The Hunt family were well loved by the local community, Supt Noble said.

"It's going to send quite a shock wave through those communities and throughout the whole area," he said.

"These people were well integrated into the local community through work, through social events, through sport. Three young children attended the local school.

"It is going to devastate everyone."

Lockhart Mayor Peter Yates said the 900-strong town community was in severe shock, according to the Australian Associated Press.

"It's just really, really, really traumatising," he said.

Deputy mayor Roger Schirmer said the mood was sombre.

"They were a highly regarded solid family. It will rock this town," he said.

Mrs Hunt had just returned to nursing in April after recovering from a serious car accident two years ago.

The local parish priest, Father Tony Schipp, said nobody in town had suspected anything was amiss with Mr Hunt.

"He was happy. He was making arrangements for events that were coming up, that he was going to be part of," Father Schipp said.

It is understood police have found a suicide note.

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Woman Held Over Baby Girl's 'Suspicious' Death

A woman has been arrested over the "suspicious" death of a five-month-old baby girl in south London.

Scotland Yard said the 26-year-old is being held on suspicion of neglect at a police station in the area.

The London Ambulance Service (LAS) was called to reports of an unresponsive baby at a house in Glastonbury Road in Morden shortly before 7.15am on Wednesday.

A spokeswoman for the LAS said two ambulances arrived to find the baby in cardiac arrest.

She was taken to St Helier Hospital in Carshalton but later died.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said officers were called to the house by the LAS shortly after paramedics arrived.

"We know the identity of the child and next of kin have been informed," she said.

"A post-mortem will be held in due course. The incident is being treated as suspicious.

"Officers from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command are investigating."

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What Happens If Scotland Leaves The Union?

Supporters of both sides of the Scotland referendum debate are mounting a final push for votes before the ballot on September 18. Sky News looks at what will happen if Scotland votes Yes to exit the UK:

:: 1.  When would Scotland become independent?

The Scottish Government has set a date 18 months from now, March 24, 2016, for Scotland's independence day.

:: 2. What would happen immediately after a Yes vote?

The first step on the morning after the result comes in would involve the forming of teams from both the Yes and No camps to take part in behind-the-scenes negotiations. SNP leader Alex Salmond has already indicated his deputy Nicola Sturgeon would lead the talks for the Scottish nationalists. It is not yet known who would spearhead the Westminster team.

The Queen is said to be privately concerned about the referendum

:: 3. What amendments would there be to the constitution?

The negotiating teams would devise a new constitution for Scotland and dissolve the 1707 Act Of Union.

:: 4. What would happen to the Queen?

The Yes campaign has said Her Majesty would stay as monarch so it would not be surprising if Mr Salmond seeks an audience with the Queen in the days and weeks after the vote.

:: 5. Would Scotland take part in the May 2015 General Election?

Scottish voters would still be able to take part, but their representatives would only potentially serve a 10-month term in office.

Scottish voters would still be able to vote in next year's General Election

:: 6. What currency would Scotland use?

That is still being thrashed out and yet to be decided. The three main Westminster parties - the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats - have ruled out a currency union, although Mr Salmond insists an independent Scotland would keep the pound.

:: 7. How much of the UK national debt would be transferred to Scotland?

This is not yet known, but it is likely to be worked out on a per capita share - based on population.

:: 8. What would happen to Scotland's standing in global affairs?

Scotland would have to negotiate its own entry into the European Union and Nato, and the population would have to decide whether they want to have the euro.

Some Scottish troops service in historic English regiments

:: 9. What effect would independence have on Scotland's defence force?

The issue of defence is probably one of the most emotive - and uncertain. Scotland is likely to have its own independent defence force, in time, depending on practicalities and finances, for it has its North Sea oil and fishing industries to protect. Scottish nationalists are opposed to having the Trident nuclear deterrent and would want to see it removed from Faslane, on the west coast of Scotland, as soon as possible. However, Nato is fundamentally a nuclear alliance, and if Scotland struggles to become a member of Nato, it is likely to struggle to join the EU too, which would have a big impact on the Scottish economy. There is also the matter of service personnel - some of which will be currently serving in historic English regiments. Any division of troops north and south of the border would take years.

:: 10. What would independence mean in terms of travelling across the Scotland-England border?

An independent Scotland would control its own borders. The SNP would like to see an open border, but Home Secretary Theresa May has already warned she will not allow Scotland to be used as a back door for immigrants getting into England if Scotland adopts a looser immigration policy. So, we could see passport controls on the border between the two countries.

Scotland would introduce its own passport

:: 11. Would Scottish citizens need new passports?

A lot depends on whether Scotland joins the EU. Scottish citizens would be entitled to a Scottish passport, but a UK passport would still be valid until it expires. British citizens who were habitual residents in Scotland would be automatically considered Scottish citizens.

:: 12. What would happen to benefits and taxes?

Benefits and taxes will become the responsibility of the new Scottish government. In its white paper on Scotland's independence it says the Scottish Parliament will ensure that the personal tax allowance and tax credits increase in line with inflation.

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Elephant Kills Maine Rescue Centre Founder

The co-founder of a centre for retired circus elephants has been killed by one of the animals he devoted his life to looking after.

Vet Dr James Laurita, 56, was killed on Tuesday when an elephant stepped on him in an enclosure at Hope Elephants, in Hope, Maine.

Knox County Sheriff's office said deputies found him unresponsive on the floor of a barn at the foundation, about 87 miles from Portland.

A medical examiner's report said that he appeared to have fallen before one of the centre's two elephants caused an injury that led to his death.

Mark Belserene, of the state medical examiner's office, said the official cause of death was asphyxiation and "multiple fractures caused by compression to the chest."

"The elephant was not aggressive in any way. It was clearly an accident," he said.

Mr Laurita established Hope Elephants in 2011 having previously worked at a veterinary practice in nearby Camden.

The Hope Elephants centre in Hope, Maine. Pic: Google Street View

According to the Camden Hospital for Animals website, he had worked in a circus for several years after receiving his zoology degree in the early 1980s.

He had then gone on to study elephant behaviour in India and had since become an expert in performing animal ultrasound.

The centre's two retired elephants - Opal and Rosie - arrived in 2012.

Dr Laurita had worked with the pair decades before as an elephant handler with the travelling Carson & Barnes Circus.

A statement on the Hope Elephants website said: "Jim's passion for all animals, but especially elephants, was boundless.

"It was Jim's ability to share that passion with all around him that not only helped to make our organisation a reality, but also enriched and enhanced the lives of all who had a chance to know Jim.

"It was through education that Jim passed on his passion and the importance of wildlife conservation."

It is not known which of the elephants was responsible for Dr Laurita's death.

He leaves behind a wife and two boys.

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Millennium Falcon Sighting Shocks Photographer

A man has told Sky News he "fell off his seat" when he realised he had captured photos of the new Star Wars set while taking publicity shots of aeroplanes.

Matthew Myatt was taking stock photos for the flying school Airborne Aviation over Greenham Common near Newbury, Berkshire, on Tuesday.

The cast past and present discuss the new film

But when he got home to load the images onto his computer he was amazed to see he had captured shots of a totally different type of aircraft - the Millennium Falcon.

Mr Myatt told Sky News he had noticed something "unusual" on the ground while working but had to get his "son to pinch him" and confirm what he thought it was.

His photo shows the partially constructed aircraft alongside an X-wing fighter, crane and other parts of a set. Mr Myatt said he could also see that trees and bushes had been planted on the common.

JJ Abrams has kept details of his film close to his chest

The former airfield was famous in the 1980s for the women's peace camp that sprang up around it in protest at the stationing of nuclear weapons on the site.

Director JJ Abrams has been filming Star Wars: Episode VII at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, Ireland and Abu Dhabi.

Mr Myatt said: "I grew up with Star Wars but this is something I never thought I'd see in real life. It was a real shocker."

Ford is back on set after breaking his leg

He added that he is planning to go back to have a closer look. 

The new film will see Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill return as Han Solo, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker. 

Ford had to have surgery on his left leg in June after breaking it on set.

The plot of Episode VII has been kept a secret but it takes place 30 years after the end of Return Of The Jedi.

The film is due for release in the UK in December 2015.

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Scotland Yes Vote Means Higher Roaming Charges

What Happens If Scotland Leaves The Union?

Updated: 2:00pm UK, Tuesday 09 September 2014

Supporters of both sides of the Scotland referendum debate are mounting a final push for votes before the ballot on September 18. Sky News looks at what will happen if Scotland votes Yes to exit the UK:

:: 1.  When would Scotland become independent?

The Scottish Government has set a date 18 months from now, March 24, 2016, for Scotland's independence day.

:: 2. What would happen immediately after a Yes vote?

The first step on the morning after the result comes in would involve the forming of teams from both the Yes and No camps to take part in behind-the-scenes negotiations. SNP leader Alex Salmond has already indicated his deputy Nicola Sturgeon would lead the talks for the Scottish nationalists. It is not yet known who would spearhead the Westminster team.

:: 3. What amendments would there be to the constitution?

The negotiating teams would devise a new constitution for Scotland and dissolve the 1707 Act Of Union.

:: 4. What would happen to the Queen?

The Yes campaign has said Her Majesty would stay as monarch so it would not be surprising if Mr Salmond seeks an audience with the Queen in the days and weeks after the vote.

:: 5. Would Scotland take part in the May 2015 General Election?

Scottish voters would still be able to take part, but their representatives would only potentially serve a 10-month term in office.

:: 6. What currency would Scotland use?

That is still being thrashed out and yet to be decided. The three main Westminster parties - the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats - have ruled out a currency union, although Mr Salmond insists an independent Scotland would keep the pound.

:: 7. How much of the UK national debt would be transferred to Scotland?

This is not yet known, but it is likely to be worked out on a per capita share - based on population.

:: 8. What would happen to Scotland's standing in global affairs?

Scotland would have to negotiate its own entry into the European Union and Nato, and the population would have to decide whether they want to have the euro.

:: 9. What effect would independence have on Scotland's defence force?

The issue of defence is probably one of the most emotive - and uncertain. Scotland is likely to have its own independent defence force, in time, depending on practicalities and finances, for it has its North Sea oil and fishing industries to protect. Scottish nationalists are opposed to having the Trident nuclear deterrent and would want to see it removed from Faslane, on the west coast of Scotland, as soon as possible. However, Nato is fundamentally a nuclear alliance, and if Scotland struggles to become a member of Nato, it is likely to struggle to join the EU too, which would have a big impact on the Scottish economy. There is also the matter of service personnel - some of which will be currently serving in historic English regiments. Any division of troops north and south of the border would take years.

:: 10. What would independence mean in terms of travelling across the Scotland-England border?

An independent Scotland would control its own borders. The SNP would like to see an open border, but Home Secretary Theresa May has already warned she will not allow Scotland to be used as a back door for immigrants getting into England if Scotland adopts a looser immigration policy. So, we could see passport controls on the border between the two countries.

:: 11. Would Scottish citizens need new passports?

A lot depends on whether Scotland joins the EU. Scottish citizens would be entitled to a Scottish passport, but a UK passport would still be valid until it expires. British citizens who were habitual residents in Scotland would be automatically considered Scottish citizens.

:: 12. What would happen to benefits and taxes?

Benefits and taxes will become the responsibility of the new Scottish government. In its white paper on Scotland's independence it says the Scottish Parliament will ensure that the personal tax allowance and tax credits increase in line with inflation.

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Iraqi PM Appeals For Help To Fight IS 'Cancer'

Bribes Of Cash And Guns To Tackle IS Jihadis

Updated: 5:03pm UK, Tuesday 09 September 2014

By Sam Kiley, Foreign Affairs Editor

Washington is on the move.

From dither to decision to deliberation and even direction, it's been a frustrating process to behold.

But it may, in the end, provide a map through the minefield of the Middle East that is at least navigable.

Past failures are no excuse for inaction.

The disaster of the invasion of Iraq, and the debacle of Afghanistan, have meant that Western public opinion is not disposed for more adventures in the Muslim world.

Politicians have taken refuge from addressing whether Islamic State is the threat they claim it is using the backward argument that there's no public support for action.

Now Barack Obama has been briefing his nation via the media, Congress, and in a landmark speech, of the need to take action to stop the IS spread.

His Secretary of State John Kerry is simultaneously en route to the Middle East with a very simple message: "The IS is a much bigger threat to you all than it is to us - so you'll be expected to do the heavy lifting here."

That doesn't just mean 'boots on the ground'.

Of course the US will be looking at a Yemen or Libyan-type operation in which local or regional forces provide troops, while allies do the bombing from a safe height.

But the campaign against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has been slow and is far from over - mainly because while AQAP has lost many leaders it has not lost the political struggle.

Similarly, Mr Kerry's trip to Saudi Arabia, where he will meet with his hosts, Jordan, Egypt, the Lebanon and six Gulf states, will focus on the military option and a much more complex political strategy to undermine IS in the Sunni world.

Jordan is ahead of the game on this, having organised a regional gathering of Sunni tribal leaders a few weeks back.

Key will be the role of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which have been rivals for Sunni dominance.

Qatar has favoured the radical non-violence of the Muslim Brotherhood, while all other regional powers and the Gulf States see the Brotherhood as a threat to their autocracies.

This need not get in the way, though, of reaching out to Sunni tribal leaders in Syria and Iraq to persuade them their future lies not with trying to win power on the back of IS and then turning against it.

Rather that it lies in turning against IS now and quickly ending an even more drawn out conflict.

They will need bribing with money and guns - which Arab states will be expected to come up with.

There are signs that IS is already vulnerable.

Former members of Saddam Hussein's armed forces who are inside IS are already showing signs they want more power, according to intelligence sources.

Meanwhile, the IS leadership for much of Iraq has been switched to Syria, and vice versa, to offset frictions between rival groups.

And inside Syria, sources say, several IS 'emirs' have clashed with local tribal chieftains who despise all outside attempts to rule over them, but would welcome support from fellow Arab Sunni governments.

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New Poll Gives 'No' Campaign Six-Point Lead

A new poll suggests 53% of people will vote for Scotland to stay in the United Kingdom in next week's independence referendum.

The Survation poll of 1,000 decided voters - published by the Daily Record - gives the 'No' campaign a six-point lead.

It follows a Sunday Times poll three days ago that put 'Yes' in the lead for the first time. 

The latest numbers came as Westminster heavyweights David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg headed north of the border in an attempt to save the union.

The Prime Minister warned Scottish voters the referendum was not about giving the "effing Tories" a kick during an impassioned speech.

Mr Cameron put hand to heart as he spoke in Scotland

Speaking in Edinburgh, Mr Cameron said: "I care far more about my country than I do about my party. I care hugely about this extraordinary country, this United Kingdom that we've built together.

"I would be heartbroken if this family of nations that we've put together was torn apart."

In an interview with Sky News' Political Editor Faisal Islam, Mr Cameron said he was in Scotland to stress that the referendum was a "cliff edge" decision.

"Scotland is a proud nation and can remain a proud nation inside the United Kingdom. It doesn't have to leave the banking system, the currency, the pension system. It does have to do those things if it goes independent."

Mr Cameron's sentiments were echoed by the Labour leader in a speech in Glasgow.

Mr Miliband urged: "Together, not alone. From the head. From the heart. From the soul. Vote No in this referendum. Let's change Britain together."

Alex Salmond said the three leaders' visit was a boost for the Yes campaign

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said the three leaders' arrival in Scotland would boost the Yes campaign - and described their late campaigning as "high panic and desperation".

The decision by the leaders to miss Prime Minister's Questions to campaign for the Union came after polls showed there was a significant risk of a Yes vote on September 18.

Mr Salmond said: "I relish David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg coming to Scotland - collectively, they are the least trusted Westminster leaders ever, and this day-trip will galvanise the Yes vote.

"The difficulty for them is that so many people will see this effort by Ed Miliband and David Cameron as too little, too late."

The three Westminster leaders did not campaign together during their trip to Scotland.

Westminster's heavyweights travelled to Scotland on the same day

Speaking to Sky News in Selkirk, Mr Clegg said: "I'm an English MP from an English constituency and I don't have a vote in the referendum but I care passionately about the outcome because this is a momentous decision which can have consequences which last generations and I just think that the United Kingdom is a remarkably successful family of nations."

The day of heavy campaigning came as Buckingham Palace warned politicians not to drag the Queen into the referendum debate after a number of MPs called for the Monarch to intervene.

Meanwhile, the Better Together campaign received a significant boost on Wednesday when BP announced its support for the "integrity of the United Kingdom".

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