Armed Forces Day: PM And Salmond Attend

Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister Alex Salmond are joining crowds marking the sixth annual Armed Forces Day in Scotland.

Thousands have been enjoying piping, parades and a Red Arrow display in Stirling to honour servicemen and women past and present.

The Princess Royal and Labour leader Ed Miliband are also attending as Stirling Castle provides the backdrop to parachute, helicopter and jet displays.

The annual celebration is being close to where Stirling is also marking the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn.

Mr Salmond and Mr Cameron meet at the event

The two-day event features re-enactments of the legendary clash which saw Robert the Bruce defeat the army of King Edward II in 1314.

Scotland's tourism minister yesterday had to dismiss the possibility that the two events occurring at the same time could be used for political purposes, with Scotland's independence referendum just months away.

Speaking in Stirling, Mr Cameron said: "Stirling has put on an absolutely brilliant show ... but there is a bigger message I think, perhaps, this year, because we can consider what Scotland brings to the UK armed forces and what being part of a bigger entity brings for Scotland as well.

"My message is always that Scotland gets the best of both worlds, and that's what we want to see.

England footballers Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart show their support

"Scotland has a very proud history. All our nations in the UK have proud histories. But what we decided to do was to come together as a family of nations, and I think we all benefit from being part of that family.

"So yes, of course, we should commemorate and celebrate Bannockburn, but we should also commemorate and celebrate every year what our armed forces do."

Meanwhile, Saracens rugby stars made a surprise visit to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, to mark Armed Forces Day.

They were shown how the camp and surrounding air routes are defended and in return put on a coaching session.

Battle of Bannockburn re-enactments in Stirling

Flanker Will Fraser said: "That was hard work. Not only is the stretcher hard to run with but the other kit, such as the helmet and body armour, adds to the difficulty.

"I have total respect for the service personnel here who have done this for real with their wounded colleagues on a stretcher."

Meanwhile, the Queen has been honouring First World War veterans on the 100th anniversary of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, which is widely thought to have sparked the conflict.

The monarch was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London for a Drumhead Service of Remembrance led by the Bishop of London.

Ahead of the Stirling event, a pilot from the Red Arrows posted a remarkable 'selfie' picture on his @RAFRed8 Twitter account.

The image appears to show him flying one of the jets, with another plane visible behind him.

Armed Forces Day was established in 2009 to celebrate the service of Army, Navy and RAF members and their families.

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Glastonbury Festival: Lightning Stops The Show

Glastonbury organisers had to cut power to stages and halt performances after a thunder and lightning storm hit the Somerset festival.

Rudimental's set on the Pyramid Stage was cut short as the heavens opened, forcing many people to run for cover just before 6pm on Friday.

A message on large screens read: "Thank you for your patience, we apologise for the inconvenience.

"In the interests of safety it was necessary to temporarily stop the show. Live music will return to the stage shortly."

Rudimental tweeted: "Thanks for an amazing experience #glasto, unfortunately lightning struck the stage and we were forced to finish our set early."

Rudimental's DJ Locksmith performing on stage before the rain came

The band's DJ Locksmith tweeted: "The weather broke my heart today ... #glasto."

Sunshine On A Rainy Day by pop singer Zoe was played over the speakers with the crowd waiting for the next act Lily Allen to perform.

Allen later took to the stage as performances resumed at 7pm.

A large crowd turned out to watch Rudimental on the Pyramid Stage

The festival's Twitter page said: "The storm has passed. The sun is out. And all stages are running on schedule!"

Earlier, the Kaiser Chiefs and Blondie were among the first music acts to perform at the event which has so far seen more rain than sunshine.

The Other Stage was opened with a surprise performance by the Chiefs, warming up ahead of their headline slot on the John Peel Stage.

The Kaiser Chiefs played a surprise set

Lead singer Ricky Wilson performed an energetic set, with the enthusiastic crowd singing along to their hit Ruby.

The day started with some steady rain but that has not deterred the thousands of music fans who have descended on the Worthy Farm site for the weekend.

Blondie's Debbie Harry on stage

And stallholders who are charging £15 a go for wellies and waterproofs have been enjoying a roaring trade.

Top of the bill this year are Metallica, Kasabian and Arcade Fire. Other acts scheduled to perform include Dolly Parton, Jack White, The Black Keys, Skrillex and Ed Sheeran.

Festival-goers shelter from the rain

Police said 85 crimes were reported within the first 48 hours of the festival opening its gates on Wednesday morning, a 30% decrease on last year.

About half of these were property thefts, with 30 people arrested so far.

One festival-goer has died after suffering a suspected reaction to ketamine.

The 26-year-old man, from Berkshire, died on Friday morning after being taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary in a "life-threatening condition" on Wednesday.

Police said it is not thought that the batch of the Class B drug the man took was contaminated.

A 67-year-old woman also died of natural causes at the site.

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

House Sitters Bag Top Properties On Cheap

By Gemma Morris, Sky News Reporter

More and more young professionals, who cannot afford to get on the housing ladder, are bagging themselves plush temporary accommodation for very little money under "guardian schemes".

Becoming a guardian is a bit like glorified house sitting - often in grand and eccentric properties that would otherwise be left standing empty.

It saves the property owners from forking out on security costs and also keeps squatters at bay.

At the same time, the guardians get to live in buildings they could otherwise only dream of - while paying monthly fees which can sometimes be as low as 20% of the market rental rate.

One of the properties on offer to guardians from Ad Hoc Property Management

Robyn Winfield-Smith is a theatre director who lives in a 10,000 sq ft building in the heart of London's West End.

Her bedroom is a spacious former dance studio.

She says being a guardian works for her and her housemates because they cannot afford typical rents in the capital.

"This enables us to stay within the careers that we want whilst living very cheaply."

Recent figures from LSL Property Services put the average monthly rent in England and Wales at £745 per month.

In London, it's £1,124.

This home in Hampstead Heath is offered as planning permission is obtained

Guardian schemes are only ever temporary, usually for a few months or years, and tend to be while the building owners await planning permission.

But Robyn enjoys the constant change.

"You can bring along all your furniture and create a brand new home every time you move ... Some of the buildings we've had have been extraordinary."

Properties managed by guardian companies include churches, pubs and other commercial buildings as well as privately owned more "normal" looking flats and houses.

Robyn Winfield-Smith enters her London dance studio home

Arthur Duke, managing director of Live-In Guardians, said the number of young professionals applying to be guardians in the past 18 months has grown.

"One of the attractions is the fact that they pay at least 50% of the going market rental which is all inclusive so there's no bills on top and no council tax either.

"We used to get around 8-10 on line applications a day, whereas now we are getting around 15-20."

Critics though warn it is not a solution to the housing crisis.

Antonia Bance, from Shelter, said: "We'd urge caution, [there are] very few tenancy rights attached to property guardianship schemes. If we're looking to solve our housing crisis the thing that we need to do is build more affordable homes."

Robyn admits there are some downsides too, but she is not put off.

"You're not allowed pets, not allowed smoking, and not allowed to have more than two people for longer than three hours  - that's the kind of general rule on guests. But that's fine because what we're getting in exchange is this amazing environment to live in."

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sun Cream Offer To Dartmoor Inmates 'Foolish'

Offering sun cream to two inmates who climbed on to a jail's roof during hot weather has been branded as "foolishness" by the Prisons Minister.

The convicts turned down the offer of lotion to protect against the sun's rays during an incident at Dartmoor prison in Devon on June 19.

Prisons Minister Jeremy Wright said he had ordered an immediate review into the matter, to ensure it was not repeated.

He said: "This should not have happened.

"There should be no policies in place which promote this kind of foolishness and I have ordered an immediate review of this incident to ensure that it does not happen again."

The Prisons Minister has ordered a review to avoid a repeat of the incident

It is not clear how the prisoners managed to get on to the roof of the jail in Princetown.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said the offer of sun cream was part of negotiations with the prisoners, and there was no obligation under health and safety rules to provide it.

John Hancock, from the Prison Officers' Association in the South West, said the decision was "absolutely ludicrous".

Mr Hancock said: "They shouldn't have been up there in the first place.

"It's only going to encourage other inmates to get on the roofs and expect sun cream, and possibly cold drinks and ice creams as well."

Dartmoor prison, which is able to hold 659 inmates, was originally built to hold French and American prisoners of war in 1809.

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Missing Elvis Impersonator: Man Arrested

Police hunting an Elvis impersonator wanted in connection with a firearms alert that closed a Cornish school have arrested a man.

Police detained a 60-year-old man on land in Widegates, Looe, and recovered two firearms, around 9.30pm on Friday.

The man was arrested on suspicion of firearms offences and was being taken into custody at Launceston police station.

He was first taken to a local hospital for a medical assessment as a precaution.

Police are not seeking anyone else in connection with the investigation.

Police tweeted a version of this photo of Derrel Weaver

Armed officers were called after a domestic-related alert at 60-year-old Derrel Weaver's home in Widegates around 9.30pm on Thursday.

The nearby Trenode Church of England Primary School was closed. Devon and Cornwall Police tweeted a photo of Mr Weaver of Higher Widlake Farm.

The caption read: "Have you seen this man, Derrel Weaver, 60, #widegates Looe, if you see him please ring 999 and do not approach."

Police maintained a "high presence" at the scene near Looe

Another tweet added: "Police are doing everything possible to maintain public safety, but we ask local people to be patient during this time."

Mr Weaver's Google+ page says he owns a tree surgery business and is also a "rock n roll singer".

Local resident Ann Chudleigha said Mr Weaver was a well-known member of the community.

The decision to close the school was made by its headteacher in consultation with police.

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Park Users Could Be Asked To Pay By Councils

By Joe Tidy, Sky News Reporter

Park users could be asked to pay for membership as part of proposals to fund green spaces in Britain.

It is just one proposal put forward by a report from the Heritage Lottery Fund which warns that the country's parks and green spaces are "on the edge of a precipice".

A £700m cash boost in the mid 1990s from lottery money has helped get parks in good health but the report says that councils are cutting budgets in order to cut costs.

Dame Jenny Abramsky, chair of Heritage Lottery Fund, says: "Parks are highly valued, precious places that are vital to our physical and emotional well-being. Following decades of decline, lottery funding sparked a parks renaissance but that is now at risk.

"We realise these are financially tough times and that is why we need collaborative action and a fresh approach to halt this threat of decline and stop this cycle of boom and bust.

"Our parks are far too important not to act now."

Almost half of UK councils are considering selling parks and green spaces

As parks are a non-statutory service, their budgets are highly vulnerable.

A survey of more than 170 councils found that 86% of parks managers' report cuts to revenue budgets since 2010, a trend they expect to continue over the next three years.

Forty-five per cent of local authorities said they are considering either selling parks and green spaces or transferring their management to others.

As well as potentially charging park users for membership, other ways to bring in money are being suggested.

Around 34 million people use Britain's parks each year

For example, money could be raised through sponsorship or advertising in parks, small-scale agricultural projects like bee-keeping could be set up, or park space could be hired out privately.

Speaking to Sky News, park users had mixed feelings about the ideas.

One said: "I pay enough in my council tax so I wouldn't want to pay more despite councils being squeezed."

Another park user said: "I wouldn't mind sponsorship or advertising as long as it wasn't over the top as I think it could take away the enjoyment of the park a bit."

The report points to a short-term impact on park users with 85% of managers intending to increase fees for parking or facilities in the next three years.

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sky Marks WWI Centenary With Daily Tweets

By Matthew Bayley, Head of Specialist Journalism

Imagine if a war of the magnitude of the 1914-1918 conflict broke out today.

From a military point of view it would obviously be an entirely different form of combat than the one fought on the battlefields of Flanders.

But journalistically it would also be an exercise of an entirely different nature.

As we have seen in recent conflicts in the Gulf, the Balkans and Afghanistan, television has revolutionised the reporting of modern warfare.

Sky News correspondents and camera crews would be deployed across the world to provide live coverage and other content on your TVs and mobile devices.

But in this digital age, social media - principally Twitter - would play an important role too.

Our correspondents - with their hundreds of thousands of followers - would be tweeting constantly.

They would reflect the latest developments from, at first, the great capitals of Europe as the continent readied for war and then from the front lines as they unfurled in the West, the East and Gallipoli.

It is this most modern form of journalism that we are seeking to replicate with this project.

We have opted for a very simple approach: @skynewsWW1.

Tweets will cover all of the war's significant events

One tweet, every day from today - the day 100 years ago when Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated - until November 11, 2018, the centenary of Armistice Day, when World War One was finally declared over.

Over the course of 1,598 tweets we are seeking to mark not only the war's most significant events but also to try to illuminate the less well known moments, instances and pieces of history that also took place.

This is an evolving project.

We hope that our viewers, readers and followers will engage with us, submit their ideas and help us build what we hope will be a unique timeline over the next four years.

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Early Bedtime Rule For Young Offenders Slammed

Young offenders will be ordered to go to bed at 10.30pm under strict new rules announced by the Government.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling revealed the new "lights out" regulation to be imposed on 15 to 17-year-olds in English institutions.

He said those who refuse to obey the new rules will be punished with the removal of privileges such as access to a television.

But prison reform campaigners labelled the plan a "petty restriction" and said it would add to problems faced in understaffed prisons.

More than 800 under-18s are serving custodial sentences in young offenders' institutions.

Mr Grayling said: "The public expects that serious offenders face prison - that is right.

"But it is also crucial that young people, most of whom have had chaotic and troubled lives finally get the discipline so badly needed to help turn their lives around.

"In some prisons young people are allowed to go to bed when they please. I don't think that is right. Stopping this inconsistency and introducing a strict 'lights out' policy is all part of our approach to addressing youth offending.

Mr Grayling said discipline was 'crucial' for young offenders

"Those who fail to comply will face tough sanctions."

The new rules will be introduced at young offenders institutions Cookham Wood in Kent, Feltham in London, Werrington in Stoke-on-Trent, Wetherby in Yorkshire, and Hindley in Wigan, from August.

Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "A new lights-out policy will only exacerbate the problem of overuse of physical restraint in the youth secure estate which indicates a lack of trained, experienced staff with enough time to supervise and support the challenging children and young people in their charge.

"As most parents of teenagers know, commonsense discussion, constructive activity, setting reasonable boundaries and encouraging personal responsibility, all work better than new hard and fast rules backed by petty restrictions and harsh punishments."

And Labour MP Sadiq Khan, the shadow justice secretary, said: "Routine is crucial for those with chaotic lives, but sending young offenders to bed early and turning the lights off at 10.30pm falls far short of the reform needed to tackle the growing chaos caused by Chris Grayling's incompetence.

"Prisons are in crisis, becoming more overcrowded by the day. Jails that are violent where prisoners spend up to 23 hours a day in their cells are unlikely to do much to stop criminals reoffending and keep the public safe."

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Euro Leaders Are Cowards' Over Juncker Vote

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has labelled Europe's leaders "cowards" for electing arch-federalist Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission.

Prime Minister David Cameron's only ally was Hungary as he attempted to block Mr Juncker, who he claims is not the right man to force through EU reform.

The Tories have promised a referendum on EU membership should they win the next election - and Mr Hunt believes "cowardice" from Europe's leaders can only make a vote to quit more likely.

"As a result of cowardice yesterday from other European leaders who weren't prepared to say in public what they said in private, they're going to have to work a lot harder to persuade the British people that Europe has a reform agenda," he said.

Mr Hunt claimed the British people would be "proud" of the Prime Minister - and that his position would ultimately help the UK renegotiate its relationship with Europe.

Former Luxembourg premier Mr Juncker was backed by Germany's Angela Merkel

"You're getting European leaders queuing up to say how much they want Britain to stay in the EU, how they'll make compromises," he said.

"We want to be a country in control of our own destiny, we want to stop abuses of the welfare system and NHS.

"We're not going to take part in some grubby face-saving deal where we pretend we've got a deal - a feature of the last government. We want substantive reform in Europe."

Sky's Senior Political Correspondent Jason Farrell said Mr Hunt was not alone with his contentions.

"It might not seem like the most diplomatic language but he's not the only one saying it," he said. "Der Spiegel magazine in Germany has said Angela Merkel voted for a Commission president she didn't want - others have said European leaders have gone for the compromise."

The Prime Minister said his fellow EU leaders had made a "serious mistake" but vowed to keep fighting for reform in Europe.

The PM argued Mr Juncker was not the "right person" for the post

"This is going to be a long, tough fight and frankly sometimes you have to be prepared to lose a battle in order to win a war," he added. "It has only stiffened my resolve to fight for reform in the EU, because it is crying out for it."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was an advocate of Mr Juncker, but amid the vote she urged EU colleagues to "compromise" with Britain.

"I think we can find compromises here and make a step towards Great Britain," she said.

Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "The last 48 hours doesn't show Europe is unreformable, it shows David Cameron is not the man to reform it because he has become toxic.

"Because people doubt his motivations, because people doubt the way he operates, it's made people say 'We're not going to ally with Britain'."

UKIP leader Nigel Farage said: "I think what's clear is that any cards that Mr Cameron may have had to play have been spent, and have been lost over a futile battle that he was bound to lose from the beginning.

"(Any) renegotiation now doesn't look very likely. He has been humiliated today but worse than that, he actually looks very isolated."

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammad's UK Asylum Bid

The family of Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammad is applying for his asylum in the UK after claiming he has been tortured in Lebanon.

The radical cleric left the UK in August 2005 and was told he would not be allowed to return.

Sky's Mark White said the family claims the radical preacher was "systematically tortured" while in custody at a maximum security prison. 

They say his health has severely deteriorated and he's no longer able to walk.

The claims have not been independently verified.

Mr White said: "The families of Omar Bakri Mohammad say that he has been transferred to a maximum security prison ... in Lebanon.

"They also say that he has been systematically tortured during his time in that maximum security prison.

"We have no independent verification of this, but the family insists that he is in very poor health.

"They claim that he is actually close to death and they're seeking an urgent appeal now to the UK authorities to have him returned to the UK under asylum."

More follows...

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More