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Steel Giant Tata Cuts 900 Jobs Across UK

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 24 November 2012 | 23.17

Indian-owned Tata Steel has confirmed that it will close 12 plants in Britain.

The move will result in 900 job losses, the company confirmed, including 580 in South Wales, 155 in Yorkshire, 120 in the West Midlands and 30 on Teesside.

Sites to close include Tafarnaubach and Cross Keys in South Wales, and it will also reduce shifts at Rotherham and Hartlepool in response to lower demand for products.

The chief executive of the company's European operations, Karl Kohler, said the move was part of a strategy to become an "all-weather steel producer", able to withstand the difficult economic conditions.

Demand for steel in Europe had fallen by 25% since 2007 and was forecast to slump by another 10% this year, Tata said.

Mr Kohler added: "The job losses are regrettable and I know this will be a difficult and unsettling time for the employees and their families affected.

"We will be working with our trade unions and government at a national and local level to ensure we provide them with as much assistance and support as possible."

The company employs 19,000 in the UK and said it remained committed to investing in the business to help create long-term stability.

It confirmed plans to re-start one of two blast furnaces at Port Talbot in the first quarter of next year as part of a £250m investment programme.

Michael Leahy, general secretary of the Community trade union, said it was "sad news" for those affected by the job losses.

"We will be seeking an urgent meeting with the company to ensure our principle of no compulsory redundancies is upheld, although we are pleased to see the company has already committed to offering a package of training and support for those affected by these changes," he said.

"Sadly, these potential job losses are symptomatic of the continuing failure of the Government's economic policy and yet another reason why we are calling on the British Government to take urgent action to stimulate economic growth ana help revive the manufacturing sector."

A Welsh Government spokesman added: "This is very disappointing news, and a massive blow to those who will be losing their jobs.

"Tata's decision reflects the serious and ongoing challenges faced by manufacturing industries during these very difficult economic times.

"In addition to these challenges, it is clear that high energy costs and uncertainty over UK Government energy policy are having a significant impact on business investment decisions.

"As a Government, we have warned for some time of the need for these costs to be reduced."


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Elephant Abuse Circus Owner Found Guilty

A circus owner found guilty of three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an elephant in his care has been spared a prison term.

Bobby Roberts was also convicted of failing to prevent an employee from repeatedly beating the animal called Anne.

The 69-year-old defendant, who ran Super Circus in Polebrook, Cambridgeshire, also failed to ensure the Asian elephant's needs were met by not giving her medication for her arthritis.

Roberts was given a three-year conditional discharge, but not ordered to pay costs and was not banned from owning animals.

His wife Moira, 75, was cleared by a jury following the five-day trial at Northampton Crown Court. The couple, from Oundle, had denied the charges.

The court was shown footage filmed secretly by animal welfare group Animal Defenders International (ADI) of the elephant being kicked and struck with a pitchfork several times by the groom at the circus's winter quarters last year.

Sentencing, District Judge David Chinnery said he recognised that Bobby had not directly inflicted the suffering, adding that he had cared for animals "for the greater part of your seventy years without criticism from any quarter".

Elephant abuse The abuse was caught on film by ADI

He said: "As you know only too well there are vast swathes of the public who have publicly voiced their views on what should happen to you.

"No cruelty was administered by your own hand.

"The chaining I regard as serious but the real cruelty it seems to me was inflicted by your groom, a man whom you had entrusted with the care of Anne, behind your back and without your knowledge.

" ...As a result of what has happened your business is effectively at an end. You have lost everything which you have built up over the last five decades. I am told that you have no funds at all."

He added that Bobby had "suffered enough punishment over the last eighteen months" and said given his "exemplary" past record was not imposing a ban on owning or caring for animals.

The secret video footage, filmed between January 21 and February 15 2011, also showed Anne constantly chained to the ground.

The 58-year-old elephant could be seen chained by one foot and one hind leg in a barn.

Anne the elephant Anne now lives at Longleat Safari Park

The legs of the animal - who the prosecution allege was not receiving medication for its arthritis - could also be seen to buckle several times in the footage.

Roberts claimed he was unaware that Anne had been constantly chained and that the groom, who is believed to have returned home to Romania, had not followed his instructions.

He admitted that the elephant would be chained up at times but said his instructions were that she be let loose behind an electric fence in a cordoned-off area.

Jan Creamer, chief executive of ADI, criticised the sentence.

She told Sky News: "No costs, no fines, and a conditional discharge is derisory. It's giving the message to circus owners that they don't need to protect these animals."

The RSPCA's Jody Gordon added: "Anyone looking at this shocking footage can see how this poor elephant suffered, and this clearly spells out how completely unacceptable this is.

"It is only a pity those physically beating Anne in the film footage could not be prosecuted also."

In April 2011, the defendants agreed to hand Anne over to Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire, where she is to live out her days.


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Fabrice Muamba Marks Comeback On Strictly

Fabrice Muamba, who suffered a heart attack during an FA Cup tie, is to mark his comeback by strutting his stuff on the dancefloor.

The former Bolton Wanderers midfielder will be among the guest stars on the one-off Christmas edition of Strictly Come Dancing.

The announcement comes just weeks after the 24-year-old told of his desire to star in the show.

In a recent interview he said he turned down Dancing On Ice, but added: "I'd do Strictly Come Dancing. I love my salsa, so I'd be well up for that."

Muamba collapsed in front of 35,000 fans in a match against Spurs earlier this year when he suffered his heart problem.

Bolton Wanderers players look on as medical staff attend to Fabrice Muamba after he collapsed on the pitch during their FA Cup quarter-final soccer match against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in London Muamba's heart stopped for 78 minutes

The Zaire-born player, who recently tied the knot with Shauna Magunda, was technically dead for 78 minutes but was brought back after repeated shocks from a defibrillator, which made his heart beat again.

He has since given up football, although he has been allowed to take part in short kickabouts, including one with a group of youngsters for Children In Need.

Muamba - who came to the UK at the age of 11 - will dance with Aliona Vilani who made an early exit from this year's Strictly competition through a damaged ankle while her partner Johnny Ball was voted out during her absence.

A show insider said: "This booking comes on the back of our most successful series ever."

The full line-up is due to be confirmed in a week.


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PM Faces Tory Rebellion Over Gay Marriage

By Darren McCaffrey, Sky Reporter

David Cameron could be facing the biggest Conservative rebellion of his premiership over plans to introduce gay marriage.

Some 118 Tory MPs - more than a third of the party's representatives- have indicated to their constituents that they are uneasy about the highly controversial move, according to The Daily Mail.

The reported figure is a sign of how divided the Conservative Party is over gay marriage, despite both the Prime Minister and Chancellor George Osborne being personally committed to legislating for it.

Ministers have promised to introduce a Bill before 2015, although it has been claimed this week that Mr Cameron actually wants to fast-track legislation and bring it before Parliament early next year.

The Government has indicated that there will be a free vote, meaning that MPs will be able to vote against the Prime Minister's position without facing disciplinary action.

However it is far from clear if all 118 MPs would vote against the legislation.

Sky News have spoken to several MPs quoted in the article who have ruled out voting against the Government.

Openly gay MP for Bournemouth West, Conor Burns, said he hasn't decided whether to abstain or vote in favour but says he doesn't understand why it's being brought forward now.

Other MPs have expressed concerns over whether enough safeguards are in place to protect religious institutions but refuse to indicate whether they oppose the principle of gay marriage.

The Chancellor however believes a large Tory vote against gay marriage will not help the party appeal to centre ground voters.

Mr Osborne warned last week that ditching the policy would be toxic electorally.

He said that polls indicate a "clear majority" in favour of the change, particularly among the young and women.

A significant vote in opposition to the Government's proposals from within Conservative ranks would certainly be an embarrassment for the Prime Minister and a further blow to his credibility.


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Movember: Call For Men's Cancer Support Groups

Campaigners have told Sky News they hope the record number of people supporting an annual cancer awareness appeal will help get more men starting their own support networks.

More than 160,000 men are diagnosed with cancer every year, including 40,000 who are told they have prostate cancer - and although there are hundreds of support groups for women, there are relatively few for men.

According to Movember, the campaign that encourages men to grow moustaches while raising funds, men are also less willing to talk openly with their friends.

Around 355,000 people have signed up to the appeal this year, with men growing and grooming a moustache throughout November to raise vital funds - more than £10.4m so far this year - for men's health.

Hywell Mills, Movember's sponsorship manager, said: "We've had a fantastic year so far, with 100,000 more moustaches being grown than last year, and the amount of awareness that generates, even before a penny is raised, cannot be underestimated. 

"We find it's a great conversation starter, especially as men aren't as comfortable as women in having these types of conversations.

"We work very closely with our men's health partners - Prostate Cancer UK, for example, runs peer-to-peer support networks and helplines for men to speak to dedicated cancer support nurses.

Roy Fox, dad of radio DJ Neil DJ Neil Fox, whose dad, Roy, died from cancer, is backing Movember

"But people need to be more aware of these services and they need to talk to their mates and their GPs as well. Creating these communities is something we're encouraging."

Neil Fox's father died of prostate cancer. The Magic FM DJ also wants to see more groups set up and said: "My dad was 76. He found out two years before. He had all the classic symptoms but he still didn't go to his GP. When he did go even the GP didn't recognise the signs."

In central London, a group of people, all of whom have been affected by prostate or testicular cancer, have already gathered to share their experiences with each other.

Stuart McGuire, 36, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in May this year. He is now in remission after undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

He said: "I remember being in the waiting room, waiting for the results. My wife came in with our baby and the doctor said: 'Stuart, you've got testicular cancer and it's spread up the the lymph nodes to your abdomen.'

"I thought, 'this can't be happening to me, this is happening to somebody else.'

"My wife was amazing and asked lots of intelligent questions but I just went into zombie mode."

Waldo de Vleeschauewer, who was also told he had the disease last October, said: "I was ignorant about cancer. I'm very active - I play squash and rugby and I thought it may have just been a sports injury.

"As guys you 'man up' and you get on with it. If something's bothering you, you just ignore it."

Movember originated in Australia but has now spread to at least a dozen countries worldwide.

Last year, 854,000 worldwide supporters raised £79.3m. In the UK, much of the money is donated to Prostate Cancer UK and the Institute of Cancer Research.


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Tax Backlash Prospect For Independent Shops

By Poppy Trowbridge, Business & Economics correspondent

Independent businesses could benefit from public uproar over low rates of corporation tax paid by global giants Starbucks, Amazon and Google, according to retail experts.

The backlash has been prompted by the revelation that Starbucks has paid just £8.6m UK corporation tax in the past 13 years, on sales of £3.1bn, when most businesses will pay a corporation tax rate of 24% this year.

In 2011, Google paid £6m tax against sales of £395m, while Amazon paid no tax at all in the UK - despite sales here reaching £3.3bn.

Matthew Stych, research director at analysts Planet Retail, believes British retailers can make the most of the furore by highlighting their own contributions and good practices.

"It's a golden opportunity that comes along once in a decade or so, to really capitalise on the negative publicity that some global retailers are receiving at the moment," he says.

"I think it's a huge opportunity that independent retailers in the community must seize now".

Starbucks, Google and Amazon tax graphic Google and Amazon are also accused of paying low taxes on big profits

Independent booksellers in Hertfordshire are doing just that. With support from the Booksellers Association they have launched an advertisement campaign to publicise the fact they pay their taxes.

"People need to think about where they are spending their money and we are hoping that this campaign will bring that to their attention," said Sheryl Shurville, co-owner of Chorleywood Bookshop.

But other analysts are not convinced such consumer campaigns will have any long-term benefit.

"We're unlikely to see any massive dip in the sales of these companies under scrutiny," says Douglas McNeill, chief analyst at Charles Stanley.

"Whilst ethical issues can temporarily make people pause for thought, consumers make their choices on the basis of eternal basics of price, quality and convenience."

Mr Stych says large brands may yet find a way to turn around the negative publicity.

"As far as Amazon and Starbucks are concerned, I think there's an opportunity to strike a more conciliatory note," according to Mr Stych. 

"This is for them also an ideal opportunity to regain or re-forge that bond with local consumers".


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Butlins Balcony Plunge Kills Man

A 23-year-old man has died after falling from a hotel balcony at the Butlins holiday resort in Bognor Regis.

Police and ambulance crews arrived at the West Sussex complex in the early hours of Saturday morning after receiving reports of the fall.

Paramedics attempted to resuscitate him, but he was declared dead at the scene.

The man has been identified as Timothy Wall, of St Leonards, Dorset.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "The death is being treated as unexplained but it is not being considered as suspicious."

A post-mortem will now take place.


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Job Ad For Bond-Style Hitman Posted Online

A spoof advert for a would-be James Bond with a licence to kill has appeared on an official Government website.

The appeal for a 'target elimination specialist' was posted on Friday, on the Department for Work and Pensions' Directgov.co.uk website, apparently on behalf of MI6.

It said that the Government had, from time to time, "a need to remove people whose continued existence poses a risk to the effective conduct of public order".

Potential candidates were told they would need to be "resourceful in finding ways to accomplish their missions and, in some cases, to leave foreign countries by non-conventional means".

The online advert went on to promise that the successful applicant would receive equipment such as special watches, mini-submarines and Bond's signature gun, the Walther PPK.

At £50,000-£60,000, the salary may have seemed a little low to fund the fast cars and Bond girls lifestyle of a secret agent, but the advert suggested that bonuses would be paid following successful missions.

It added that the job, which had the reference number 007, would be "appropriate for those who like their martinis shaken and not stirred".

Unfortunately for would-be spies, a spokesperson for MI6 has confirmed the advert is fake and the Government is not looking to recruit a killer.

She added that while it was not yet clear how the ad got onto the site, external employers are able to post potential openings on it.

It has now been removed.


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Chief Whip Requests Meeting With Nadine Dorries

Nadine Dorries has been asked to attend a meeting with the Chief Whip following her appearance on I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

The MP for Mid Bedfordshire was suspended from the Conservative Party earlier this month after agreeing to take part in the ITV show over concerns she would not be able to carry out her constituency duties while in Australia.

Sir George Young, whose job it is as Chief Whip to administer party discipline, has put in a request for her to attend a meeting now that she had been evicted from the jungle.

The Prime Minister supported the decision to suspend her and said then: "When she gets back from the jungle, she can explain what she's been up to and why."

Ms Dorries, who is understood to have received a £40,000 payment for her appearance, has been a source of annoyance to the Tory leadership for some months.

She publicly upbraided David Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne for being "arrogant, out of touch posh boys" who didn't know the price of bread.

The controversial MP, who has been nicknamed "Mad Nad", was the first contestant to be voted off the show but was in the jungle for 12 days.

If her suspension were to continue until nearer the next general election, due in 2015, she would be unable to defend her leafy suburban seat, where she had a healthy majority of 15,152 at the last election.


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Britain Braced For More Heavy Flooding

Britain is bracing itself for more flooding and travel disruption over the weekend as forecasters predict further heavy downpours.

A deep area of low pressure is set to move in over the weekend, bringing more heavy rain to areas already badly hit by Thursday's downpours.

Dave Throup of the Environment Agency told Sky News there were an "awful lot" of properties at risk.

"We are initially concerned about the south west of England which is already saturated and then tomorrow probably moving up into the Midlands as well," he said.

"The catchments are now completely saturated and we have spent the last day or so trying to make sure that the rivers are as clear as they can be.

"We've already protected 20,000 properties but we need to be vigilant."

He said 400 properties across the country had already been flooded.

The Environment Agency has issued 44 flood warnings and more than 150 less serious flood alerts.

The flooded Somerset Levels The South West has been hardest hit by the floods

Emergency teams have been working through the night and this morning to shore up defences, deploy temporary barriers, monitor river levels, clear blockages from watercourses and pump out flood water from towns.

Sky weather producer Joanna Robinson said: "England and Wales could see 15 to 25mm quite widely, with up to 50mm possible in some spots."

South and west Wales and the West Country will be worst affected. Strong winds and possible severe gales are expected on Saturday night and Sunday morning,

"There's still some uncertainty about where the strongest winds will be, but it looks like southern counties of England will bear the brunt, with exposed parts seeing gusts up to 70mph," she said.

The AA's head of special operations, Darron Burness, said: "With more heavy rain forecast across the Midlands, Wales and the South West, road conditions in the affected areas are likely to only get worse as the ground is so saturated.

"Even if you think you know your local roads, don't be complacent, as flash-flooding continues to be a real risk and is catching people out."

Meanwhile, Network Rail said trains were likely to be suspended between Exeter and Bristol until Monday.

The majority of the UK was battered by storms on Thursday leaving hundreds of drivers stranded and thousands of homes without power. More than 100 people had to be evacuated as winds reached more than 86mph.

Three elderly people being rescued from their car after it is swept away by floods Three people were rescued after their car was swept away

An elderly man died after becoming trapped in his 4x4 in floods in Chew Stoke in Somerset.

Three other people had a lucky escape after their car was swept down a swollen river in Warwickshire. The vehicle was carried more than 500 metres before a farmer managed to pull it to the water's edge.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "Two elderly females and one male were treated for shock and hypothermia by ambulance crews."

In Torquay, Devon, several homes were evacuated after a landslide. Part of a cliff face was hit by a landslip after netting was washed away.

A monkey at a sanctuary in Looe, Cornwall had to be resuscitated after falling ill due to the bad weather. The illness to one-year-old Pepper was the latest setback for Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary affter it suffered serious flood damage on Thursday.


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