Nida Naseer: Body Identified As Missing Teen

A body recovered on Thursday is that of teenager Nida Naseer, who went missing near her home in Newport last December, police say.

Gwent Police formerly identified the body after it was discovered on the estuary side of the sea wall at the Gwent Wetlands site, West Nash Road.

Police said in a statement that the initial post-mortem examination had not been concluded and the cause of death remains unexplained.

Nida disappeared after going to put the bins out on the evening of December 28.

The teenager was not wearing shoes when she walked outside and did not have her phone, money or coat.

There had been no trace of the teenager since she disappeared and her mobile phone has not been used.

Nida was 'upset and angry' on the night of her disappearance

Superintendent Mark Warrender, local policing commander for Newport, said: "This is an extremely tragic case and our sincere condolences remain with the family.

"Since Nida went missing we have remained hopeful that she would be found safe and well and reunited with her family.

"Yesterday's discovery was a very sad development for me and the investigative team, who have remained committed to finding Nida since the night she was reported missing by her family.

"We continue to support them at this dreadful time, and on their behalf can I please ask that they now be left alone to grieve."

Her older sister, Shamyla, 23, had previously said she thought Nida's disappearance was due to her being upset about being unable to attend university.

Despite getting good grades, Nida's status as a failed asylum seeker meant she could not get funding to study for a degree and her family could not afford to pay the fees.

Her family said her disappearance was "totally out of character", particularly since she needed medication which stopped her becoming anaemic.

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Coronation Street Star In Drink-Drive Arrest

Coronation Street actress Barbara Knox has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.

The 80-year-old, who plays Rita Tanner in the soap, was held after arriving at a police station to meet her daughter who had earlier been arrested for the same offence.

A spokeswoman for Cheshire Police said: "Police stopped a car in Hollow Lane, Knutsford, and a 56-year-old woman from Gloucestershire was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.

"An 80-year-old woman from Knutsford arrived at Knutsford police station and was also arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.

"She was bailed pending further inquiries."

The Sun reported that the actress and her daughter Maxine Ashcroft had been out for the afternoon and were pulled over by police as Ms Ashcroft drove her home.

Knox later confronted officers at the station, asking "Do you know who I am?", the paper said.

Ms Ashcroft was later charged with "driving when the alcohol level was above the limit".

She is due to appear at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court on April 2.

Knox is due to answer bail on April 4.

This year marks 50 years since she first appeared in the show as an exotic dancer.

A spokeswoman for ITV told Sky News the arrest was a "private and personal matter".

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Student To Be Deported: Mother Tells Of Shock

The mother of a teenage student who is set to be deported from Britain to Mauritius on Sunday has told Sky News she has been left devastated by the Home Office's decision.

Yashika Bageerathi, 19, has been told she will fly back to the Indian Ocean island at 5pm on Mother's Day without her family.

Her mother Sowbhagyawatee Bageerathi told Sky News: "She rang me again and she started crying, and then she told me she has to go on a flight on Sunday.

"I was shocked. I said 'What Sunday?' She said 'this Sunday'.

"And then I said 'Are you joking because this is Mother's Day?'"

Miss Bageerathi came to the UK in 2011 with her mother and two younger siblings to escape alleged physical abuse by a relative, and claimed asylum in the summer of 2013.

Sowbhagyawatee Bageerathi (R) and her family face the threat of deportation

She had been attending Oasis Academy Hadley, in Enfield, north London, where she was described as a first-class student, until she was detained at  Yarl's Wood immigration detention centre in Bedfordshire on March 19.

It was hoped she would be released on bail from the centre this week, a campaign backed by her MP, David Burrowes who represents Enfield Southgate, and the teenager's school principal, Lynne Dawes.

On Thursday, Home Secretary Theresa May said it would not be appropriate to "interfere" with the case.

Ms May told Sky News: "Yashika's two claims to appeal against the decision on her asylum claims have been dealt with by the judges, they've been looked at by the judges and I don't think it's appropriate for a politician to interfere in that legal process."

Campaigners have protested the case outside the Home Office

She said the plight of the teenager had gone through the "proper process" and she would not be stepping in to prevent her deportation.

It seemed she had been given a last minute reprieve on Tuesday, when British Airways appeared to refuse to allow her to board a flight from Gatwick Airport, but the airline would not comment on this.

The campaign was dealt a blow on Tuesday evening when her mother, brother and sister were told they also faced the threat of deportation after receiving a letter from the Home Office telling the mother she had no grounds for appeal.

A petition by the students calling on Ms May to stop the deportation and allow the student to complete her A-levels has collected more than 140,000 signatures.

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Scotland Currency Deal Ruled Out By Government

The Government has denied claims there could be a currency union between an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK.

An unnamed minister had reportedly told The Guardian that a deal on sharing the pound could be made with Scotland if the UK's nuclear submarine fleet was able to remain at Faslane.

But Chancellor George Osborne insisted that if Scotland opted for independence it meant "walking out of the UK pound".

The UK is keen to keep its nuclear submarines in Faslane

The newspaper said the minister told them: "Of course there would be a currency union.

"There would be a highly complex set of negotiations after a yes vote with many moving pieces.

"The UK wants to keep Trident nuclear weapons at Faslane and the Scottish government wants a currency union - you can see the outlines of a deal.

George Osborne has denied there will be a currency union

"Saying no to a currency union is obviously a vital part of the no campaign. But everything would change in the negotiations if there were a yes vote."

The Scottish Government's White Paper on independence, published in November 2013, states a shared currency is in the "economic interests" of Scotland and the rest of the UK.

However, in a joint statement with Liberal Democrat Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander, Mr Osborne said: "There will not be a currency union in the event of independence. The only way to keep the UK pound is to stay in the UK.

"A currency union will not work because it would not be in Scotland's interests and would not be in the UK's interests."

Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said: "An anonymous, off the record quote does not change the stark reality on the currency.

"The UK Government has listened to the views of the Governor of the Bank of England and the independent advice of the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury that a currency would be damaging for all the United Kingdom.

"That's why a currency union simply will not happen."

Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland Deputy First Minister, said the claims were a significant development in the referendum campaign.

She told Sky News: "The fact of the matter is a currency union makes sense, it makes sense for an independent Scotland but it would also make overwhelming sense for the rest of the UK as well.

"Trident will not be a bargaining chip for the Scottish government, we want to see nuclear weapons removed from Scotland as quickly as it's safely possible to do so."

A YouGov poll for The Times newspaper last week suggested 45% of Scots did not believe Chancellor George Osborne's pledge to rule out a formal currency union.

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Dowler Phone-Hacking Claims 'Disgusted' Brooks

By Enda Brady, Sky News Correspondent

The husband of ex-News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks has told a court the couple were "disgusted" by allegations murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone was hacked.

Charlie Brooks was giving evidence in his defence at the Old Bailey where he denies a charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Mr Brooks, 51, told the phone-hacking trial that on the day the claim was made public, July 4, 2011, the couple were guests at the home of James Murdoch.

He said they felt the information had been deliberately leaked to the media by the police and wondered if it was "a political hit" aimed at thwarting a bid by NI's parent company to takeover the broadcaster BSkyB.

"There was too much substance to it, it was more than our enemies trying to de-rail the Sky bid," said Mr Brooks.

"Has it really happened? Have we really deleted Milly Dowler's voicemails? It was disgusting."

He said the claims had left his wife "really under the cosh" and that "the wolves were after her".

Mr Brooks added that his wife, 45, lived with a "paranoia" of being arrested in a dawn raid by police and of photographers getting a "killer photo" of her being led away in handcuffs by officers.

Charlie and Rebekah Brooks along with five other defendants deny the charges. The trial was later adjourned for the day.

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Claims Of Union 'Bully-Boy Tactics' Probed

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

A legal probe into allegations of "bully-boy tactics" by trade unions, prompted by the Grangemouth oil refinery dispute, is to be launched by the Government.

Headed by a top QC, the review will examine claims of intimidation and extreme behaviour, including so-called "leverage tactics" used by the Unite union at Grangemouth.

The probe could lead to recommendations for major changes in industrial law, which the Conservatives would include in their manifesto at the next general election.

But the review has been denounced by union leaders as a "party political stunt".

Vince Cable wants the role of employers scrutinised

And the Liberal Democrat Business Secretary Vince Cable insisted it should also investigate the role of employers in industrial disputes.

The move follows a pledge by David Cameron in November to review trade union practices with a view to bringing in new legislation to outlaw industrial intimidation.

But unions have refused to co-operate with the process, leaving ministers now forced to hold an inquiry headed by industrial relations lawyer Bruce Carr QC without unions being involved.

Tactics used by Unite in the Grangemouth dispute included a giant inflatable rat parked outside one boss's home and "wanted" posters put through executives' letter boxes.

But the union has always insisted all its protests were lawful and denied allegations by the plant's Ineos management and Government ministers, that bosses' children were intimidated.

A senior Whitehall source said: "The Government has a keen interest in the resilience of critical industrial infrastructure.

"Resilience cannot be guaranteed without effective workforce relationships.

"These relationships, and the law that governs them, have consequences both for the operation of particular, critically important, facilities, as well as more widely in the economy, at both a local and national level.

"Therefore, the Government wants to assess whether the current legislation dealing with activities taking place during industrial disputes is fit for the 21st Century."

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady has condemned the review

The review's terms of reference are to assess alleged use of extreme tactics in industrial disputes, including so-called leverage tactics, and effectiveness of the existing legal framework to prevent inappropriate or intimidatory actions in trade disputes.

Mr Carr's review is expected to take six months and he will report to Mr Cable and the Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude.

Mr Maude said: "Trade unions can play a constructive role in the modern workplace.

"But allegations of union industrial intimidation tactics - which include attempts to sabotage business supply chains - are very serious and may be damaging our economy's competitiveness, which would make our future less secure.

"That's why it's right to have this review to get to the bottom of these tactics and to determine whether the existing law is effective."

Mr Cable added: "Strong and effective relations between employers and workers were crucial in safeguarding British jobs during the worst of the economic crisis.

"These strong industrial relations will continue to be at the heart of our economic recovery and I am keen to see balanced input from both sides on how to improve them further.

"This is especially important for sites that form part of our critical national infrastructure.

"We are determined to make the UK the best place in Europe to start and grow a business.

"Good industrial relations and a flexible labour market are key strengths of our economy.

"We must safeguard these if we are to continue to attract business investment in the years ahead."

But the review was condemned by TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady, who said: "This review may have been announced with great fanfare by the Prime Minister.

"But the delay in setting it up, the limited terms of reference and the exclusion of the promised consideration of employer behaviour, such as blacklisting, confirms that it was never anything more than a headline grabbing party political stunt."

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First Gay Weddings: PM Hails 'Equal Marriage'

Prime Minister David Cameron has hailed the first gay weddings in England and Wales as sending a "powerful message" about equality in the UK.

The law changed at midnight, with a number of gay couples vying to claim the title of being among the first to be married as ceremonies took place across England and Wales.

Despite facing opposition from some in the Conservative Party about his backing for the change, Mr Cameron said the reform was necessary because "when people's love is divided by law, it is that law that needs to change".

Writing in Pink News, he said: "This weekend is an important moment for our country" because "we will at last have equal marriage in our country".

"The introduction of same-sex civil marriage says something about the sort of country we are," he added.

"It says we are a country that will continue to honour its proud traditions of respect, tolerance and equal worth. It also sends a powerful message to young people growing up who are uncertain about their sexuality.

The Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act was passed in July

"It clearly says 'you are equal' whether straight or gay. That is so important in trying to create an environment where people are no longer bullied because of their sexuality - and where they can realise their potential, whether as a great mathematician like Alan Turing, a star of stage and screen like Sir Ian McKellen or a wonderful journalist and presenter like Clare Balding."

Among the first couples set to take advantage of the legalisation were actor Andrew Wale, 49, and guesthouse owner Neil Allard, 48, who wed at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton just after midnight.

Following the ceremony in which the couple wore matching suits, Mr Wale told Sky News: "It's a wonderful feeling, it was much more emotional than I thought it was going to be and I'm just kind of happy and buzzing."

Mr Allard added: "It's exciting, it's a new step forward and it's all about love."

Andrew Wale (L) and Neil Allard said their vows in Brighton

Peter McGraith and David Cabreza, who have been together for 17 years, tied the knot at Islington Town Hall, north London, just moments after midnight struck.

Ahead of their ceremony, Mr McGraith said: "We are thrilled to be getting married. It is a mark of significant social progress in the UK that the legal distinction between gay and straight relationships has been removed.

"Very few countries afford their gay and lesbian citizens equal marriage rights and we believe that this change in law will bring hope and strength to gay men and lesbians in Nigeria, Uganda, Russia, India and elsewhere, who lack basic equality and are being criminalised for their sexual orientation."

After watching the ceremony, campaigner Peter Tatchell told Sky News there was still more to be done.

"We need to keep up the battle to insure that all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people in this country and around the world have equal human rights," he said.

Mr McGraith (L) and Mr Cabreza were wed just moments after midnight

Broadcaster Sandi Toksvig and her civil partner Debbie Toksvig renewed their vows at a public event at the Royal Festival Hall on the Southbank in London.

Same-sex couples wishing to marry had initially thought they would have to wait until the summer after the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act was passed last July.

However, they were allowed to register their intention to marry from March 13, with March 29 the first day they could get hitched.

Unlike civil partnerships, same-sex marriages will give the same legal recognition as marriage across a range of areas including pensions, inheritance, child maintenance and immigration rights.

While the change will not be enforced upon religious organisations, they will be able to opt in.

Andrea Williams from Christian Concern told Sky News the reforms had gone too far.

"We have moved all the goal posts, suddenly we don't actually know what things mean, marriage once clearly meant something; a man and a woman in an exclusive promise, in a union that is life long, for the good of children," she said.

However, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has said that the Church of England would drop its opposition now the new law has come into force.

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Maria Miller 'Will Have To Repay Thousands'

The Culture Secretary will reportedly be asked to pay back thousands of pounds for allegedly abusing parliamentary expenses by over-claiming on her mortgage.

As well as repaying up to £5,000, Maria Miller will be asked to apologise to Parliament for not co-operating in a "timely manner", the Daily Telegraph claimed.

The newspaper also reported the Cabinet minister made a profit of £1.2m on the house where her parents lived in Wimbledon, southwest London, which she claimed for as her second home.

She and her husband are said to have bought the property in 1995 for £234,000 and sold it on Valentine's Day this year for £1.47m.

A source close to Mrs Miller said she had "co-operated fully" with the inquiry into the £90,000 she claimed in second home allowances amidst "constant unfounded speculation".

"It's not surprising London houses go up in value well over a decade after they are first bought," the source said.

"It's also not unusual for people to move house."

The Daily Telegraph said Mrs Miller is expected to come under intense pressure to resign when the results of the official inquiry are made public.

However, Sky's chief political correspondent Jon Craig said the Conservative MP had "come out fighting" in response to the allegations.

"She's disputing some of the claims that have been made against her and remains defiant," he added.

The cross-party Standards Committee is yet to publish its report into Mrs Miller's expenses claims.

According to a statement on its website, no further announcement is expected until at least April 2.

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Nurse Appears In Court To Face Murder Charges

A nurse has appeared in court accused of the murder of three patients at Stepping Hill Hospital in 2011.

Victorino Chua, 48, spoke only to confirm his name, age and address during a three-minute hearing at Manchester Magistrates' Court.

He was told he faces a total of 34 charges, including the murders of Tracey Arden, 44, Arnold Lancaster, 71, and Derek Weaver, 83.

They and 18 others were poisoned with deliberately contaminated products at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport, Greater Manchester.

Chua was re-arrested and charged following a lengthy investigation by police at the hospital.

Mike McKeown, defending Chua, asked for the defendant to be produced in person rather than appearing by video-link at a bail hearing next week.

A police investigation into the deaths at Stepping Hill was launched after staff noticed "unexplained" low blood sugar levels in patients.

Officers later found a number of saline drips had been tampered with.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Heywood, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Our thoughts continue to be with those people who were deliberately poisoned and their families.

"From day one we made a commitment to those people, as well as the wider community, to thoroughly and robustly investigate what occurred.

"In close to three years we have conducted many painstaking enquiries and engaged with numerous medical experts."

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United Boss Moyes Faces Plane Banner Protest

By Paul Kelso, Sports Correspondent

Supporter discontent over Manchester United's slide into mediocrity took to the skies over Old Trafford before the lunchtime kick-off against Aston Villa.

Fans demanding manager David Moyes be sacked following United's disappointing season paid £840 for a plane carrying a banner reading: "Wrong One - Moyes Out".

The message was a response to a banner inside Old Trafford on the Stretford End that reads "The Chosen One", a reference to the fact Sir Alex Ferguson personally selected Moyes as his successor.

The banner has been mocked by rival fans as United struggle post-Ferguson

Jeers could be heard inside the stadium as the "Moyes Out" banner flew overheard shortly before kick-off.

United won the match 4-1.

Asked about the banner before the match, Moyes said: "You just have to remain focused on the game - and that's what we have done.

"It is going to happen but I think, for the people who have spent money on the plane, it would have been better served by putting it into Darren Fletcher's colitis charity instead."

Sir Alex Ferguson picked David Moyes as his successor at Old Trafford

Moyes is struggling to gain the confidence of fans after a season that has set records for relative failure.

United are already guaranteed their lowest points total in the Premier League era, with automatic qualification for the Champions League looking highly unlikely.

They went out of the FA Cup in the third round for only the second time in 27 years and lost in the semi-final of the League Cup.

They are still in the Champions League, with a quarter-final against Bayern Munich at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Moyes signs autographs for fans ahead of the match

The manner and result of that tie may yet settle Moyes' fate.

The club's American owners, the Glazer family, will give him every chance to show he is up to the job.

But with every limp performance their confidence in him, and willingness to let him spend £200m on rebuilding the squad, can only be dented.

The response of supporters to the aerial duel overhead on Saturday will be watched closely by the owners.

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