Shot Malala: Duo Stopped By Hospital Security

By David Crabtree, Midlands Correspondent

Two people have been stopped from entering a ward where a teenager shot by the Taliban is being treated.

The pair - described by police as "well-wishers" - turned up at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital overnight and made efforts to see Malala Yusufzai, 14, who arrived in the UK for treatment on Monday.

At first a hospital spokesman said he understood arrests had been made after people claiming to be family members tried to gain access.

But West Midlands Police later clarified that the two individuals posed no threat to the Pakistani schoolgirl.

A police spokesman said: "They were stopped in a public area of the hospital and questioned by police, who recorded their details and advised the pair that they would not be allowed to see her.

"No arrests were made and at no point was there any threat to Malala."

The shooting of the schoolgirl on a bus provoked outrage

The hospital's medical director Dr Dave Rosser said earlier that the hospital and police are "very comfortable" with security arrangements at the hospital.

Referring to the incident overnight, Dr Rosser said: "We don't believe there's any sort of threat to her personal security - we think it's probably people being over-curious."

Malala was shot on a bus in front of her friends last Tuesday after campaigning for the right to go to school.

She was saved by neurosurgeons in a Pakistani military hospital and has since been in intensive care.

Dr Rosser said medics in Birmingham have been "very pleased" with the teenager's progress and that she had a "comfortable" first night in the UK.

He added she has been showing "every sign of being just every bit as strong as we've been led to believe that she is".

Experts at the hospital were beginning to plan for reconstructive surgery, he added.

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Gary McKinnon: May Blocks Extradition To US

Long Wait Over Extradition Ruling

Updated: 12:47pm UK, Tuesday 16 October 2012

Computer hacker Gary McKinnon has been living under the threat of extradition and prosecution in the US for more than 10 years. Here is a summary of the key events in his case:

:: 2001-2002 Between February 1 2001 and March 19 2002, the Glasgow-born computer expert allegedly hacks into 97 US government computers from his home in north London.

He is accused of leaving 300 computers at US Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey unusable immediately after the September 11 2001 terror attacks on America.

US prosecutors also allege he deleted files which shut down the US army's military district of Washington DC network of more than 2,000 computers for 24 hours.

Mr McKinnon later denies causing any damage and says he was only looking for files that would prove the existence of UFOs.

:: 2002 Between March 19 and August 8, Mr McKinnon is interviewed about his hacking by the UK's National Hi-Tech Crime Unit at the request of the US government.

On October 31, the District Court of New Jersey in the US issues a warrant for his arrest before Paul McNulty, the US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, says on November 12: "Mr McKinnon is charged with the biggest military computer hack of all time."

:: 2004 The US District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia issues another warrant for McKinnon's arrest on August 12 and, on October 7, the US government files a request for his extradition.

:: 2005 On March 31, a warrant for Mr McKinnon's arrest is issued by Bow Street Magistrates' Court and officers from Scotland Yard's extradition unit arrest him at his north London home on June 7.

:: 2006 Then-home secretary John Reid signs an order on July 4 for McKinnon to be extradited to the US.

:: 2007 Mr McKinnon loses an attempt to appeal against his extradition at the High Court on April 3.

:: 2008 The House of Lords, then Britain's highest court, dismisses a further appeal bid by the computer expert on July 30 and McKinnon - who is diagnosed as suffering from Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, on August 25 - also loses his bid to get the European Court of Human Rights to stay the extradition on August 28.

Then-home secretary Jacqui Smith rejects a request from Mr McKinnon's legal team on September 13 to stop the extradition on the grounds of his Asperger's diagnosis.

:: 2009 In January, Mr McKinnon wins permission in the High Court to seek judicial review of Ms Smith's decision and, a month later, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announces that it will not bring charges against him in Britain.

Mr McKinnon makes a bid at the High Court in July to force the Government into allowing a trial in the UK, challenging the CPS's refusal to sanction a trial in this country, but two High Court judges refuse to block his removal.

Then-Tory leader David Cameron joins the growing call for a review of extradition laws in July, saying McKinnon is "a vulnerable young man and I see no compassion in sending him thousands of miles away from his home and loved ones to face trial".

The following month, Mr McKinnon's mother Janis Sharp criticises the then-home secretary Alan Johnson for linking her son to the September 11 terror attacks and the deaths of nearly 3,000 US citizens.

In November, the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee calls for a "comprehensive review" of the controversial treaty under which Mr McKinnon could be sent for trial while Mr Johnson, as home secretary, rejects a last-ditch appeal for him to block the extradition, saying: "I have no general discretion."

:: 2010 Mr McKinnon's mother receives 173 votes when she stands against Jack Straw, who helped agree the extradition treaty with the US, in his Blackburn constituency at the general election in May.

Later that month, the new Home Secretary Theresa May gives campaigners a glimmer of hope by agreeing his case should be adjourned while medical evidence is considered.

Now Prime Minister, Mr Cameron discusses Mr McKinnon's case with US President Barack Obama in July, saying he hopes "a way through" can be found.

It also emerges through leaked documents in November that, as prime minister, Gordon Brown unsuccessfully proposed a deal to allow McKinnon to serve any prison sentence in Britain.

:: 2011 The Government should renegotiate the UK's extradition treaty with the US to ensure British citizens get the same protection as Americans, the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) says in June.

But in October, a long-awaited review of extradition arrangements by retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Scott Baker finds the current treaty between the US and the UK is both balanced and fair. Many MPs and campaigners urge the Government to change the Extradition Act anyway.

:: 2012 The High Court expresses concern in January over the length of time Mr McKinnon's case in taking and attempts to speed matters up by listing it for a hearing in July.

In March, Mr Cameron and Mr Obama agree to review the operation of the controversial extradition treaty, but do not mention any individual cases during talks at the White House.

On October 16, the Home Secretary announces she is blocking Mr McKinnon's extradition on health grounds.

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Breast Cancer: Older Patients To Quadruple

The number of women aged 65 or over living with breast cancer is set to rise to more than 1.2 million by 2040.

New research from King's College London claims today's figure of 340,000 will quadruple in the next 30 years.

At present, 59% of all breast cancer survivors are over the age of 65 but the research, funded by Macmillan Cancer Support, suggests that this figure will increase to 73% by 2040.

The data, published in the British Journal of Cancer, also suggests that by 2040 breast cancer will account for more than half of all cancer cases in women in the UK.

Ciaran Devane, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, said: "The NHS needs to take heed of these figures.

"It is already struggling to provide adequate care for older breast cancer patients.

"We need to change the way we care for older breast cancer patients now - so that we are prepared for such a dramatic increase in numbers."

Dr Rachel Greig, senior policy officer at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: "It is startling to think that we could have a million older women living with breast cancer within a generation.

"It shows that we have a rapidly ageing population - but also that we are getting much better at treating women with breast cancer.

"However, increasingly we should think less about the age of patients, and more about their individual need."

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Teachers 'Buying Breakfast' For Hungry Pupils

Rising numbers of children are going to school on an empty stomach, according to a new report.

Four in five teachers (79%) claim their pupils are turning up for lessons hungry, with more than half (55%) saying the numbers have increased in the past year.

Two-thirds of 500 teachers surveyed (68%) said the main reason was parents not caring if their children have a decent breakfast.

Some 57% of teachers suggested a lack of money was to blame for pupils not being fed at home.

Many teachers end up buying food for youngsters out of their own pocket in a bid to help, the report found.

Nearly one in three (31%) of those questioned said they take food into school to give to hungry pupils.

The report, by Opinion Matters for cereal maker Kellogg's, says 13% of primary school teachers apparently spend up to £24.99 a month feeding youngsters.

It warns that arriving for school hungry can impair a child's concentration, cause behavioural problems and affect learning.

Nearly one in three teachers take food to school for hungry pupils

The report suggests breakfast clubs are a cost-effective way to ensure children eat before lessons.

But it adds many clubs in schools across England have closed in the past year due to a shortage of funds.

Karin Woodley, chief executive of education charity ContinYou, said: "Many families are really struggling financially and, in extreme cases, this means that there simply isn't enough food to go round.

"Breakfast clubs can provide a lifeline for these families, so we're extremely concerned to hear that many are being forced to close."

Earlier this year, a survey by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers found young children in England are being served "very small" school dinners and given a limited choice despite paying more for their meals.

It revealed almost a third of teachers do not believe school meals are value for money, with some warning that pupils are often being given chips, pasta and rice rather than vegetables and salad.

It also found there had been an increase in free school meals - a measure of poverty - as more families were hit by economic problems.

The report comes as separate figures suggest number of the UK's poor and destitute receiving emergency food aid has almost doubled in the past six months.

The Trussell Trust, the country's largest organiser of food banks, said that from April to September nearly 110,000 adults and children were referred for emergency help by professionals such as the police, social workers and job centre advisers and GPs.

:: The Opinion Matters survey for Kellogg's questioned 500 teachers between August 7-21.

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Legal Highs: Drugs Charity Warns Of Dangers

The dangers of so-called legal highs and club drugs are being highlighted in a new campaign.

The Angelus Foundation said its research suggests a third of 16 to 24 year olds are now likely to try them - but the risks are almost completely unknown and many can be potentially fatal.

The substances may contain a dangerous combination of toxic chemicals which produce side effects such as psychosis, depression, panic attacks, heart problems, seizures, coma, loss of use of the bladder and even death.

Maryon Stewart set the charity up after her 21-year-old daughter Hester died taking the drug GBL in 2009. 

The medical student was given half a dose which, combined with the alcohol she had consumed during an awards dinner, sent her into a coma.

Amy Winehouse's father Mitch has backed the awareness campaign.

Recently, GBL, mephedrone and ketamine have been made illegal but many unregulated legal highs such as Benzo Fury and MDAI are still widely available over the internet and without health hazard warnings.

Mrs Stewart says the Find Out campaign will help give young people the facts about the dangers.

"There has been an unprecedented influx of new legal highs in the country," she said.

"Currently there is a huge knowledge gap in their effects and the dangers they present. Legal does not mean safe.

"Angelus is devoted to raising awareness of the dangers of legal highs and club drugs and providing information and impartial advice to both young people and parents alike."

The campaign is backed by the Amy Winehouse Foundation, named after the singer who died of alcohol poisoning in July 2011. 

Her father Mitch Winehouse said: "A whole generation of young people is at risk from legal highs simply because they don't know what serious harm they can come to by taking them.

"We're delighted to be working collaboratively with the Angelus Foundation to help set the record straight about the dangers of legal highs and club drugs, and to prevent any more senseless deaths."

The charity said 28 new legal highs have become available in the UK in the first five months of this year alone - and the figure is set to rise in 2013.

A number of other deaths have been attributed to legal highs including Joseph Bennett, 17, who died last week after inhaling nitrous oxide.

Police in Scotland confirmed three people had been taken to hospital at the same time earlier this month after taking a legal high called Annihilation.

In February, Northumbria Police issued a warning over the use of legal highs after the death of 18-year-old Andrew Lourie.

In March 2011, 21-year-old Louise Cattell took a dose of ketamine and drowned in her bath while watching a DVD.

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Damien Hirst's Naked Statue Verity Hoisted

The latest work of art by Damien Hirst has been unveiled on a pier in Devon - much to the despair of some locals.

Verity, a bronze 65ft, 20-ton statue depicting a pregnant woman wielding a sword, has been loaned to Ilfracombe for the next 20 years.

A cross-section of the woman's body is exposed to reveal muscles and a foetus.

There are mixed views about the work of art, which is described by the artist - who lives in the seaside town - as a "modern allegory of truth and justice". 

Ilfracombe harbour master Rob Lawson, who was involved in early discussions about getting the statue, told Sky News: "I think it's awe-inspiring.

"On one side you've got a beautiful, calm and emotional depiction of pending motherhood and on the other side you've got the rather more controversial and intricate picture of the human body."

The bronze is being lent to Ilfracombe for 20 years

Others are less than happy. Joel Cooper, chief reporter at the North Devon Journal, said: "I think you either love it or hate it.

"Certainly, we've had hundreds and hundreds of letters come into the newspaper to say they're absolutely appalled by it ... or they think it's a fantastic opportunity to move Ilfracombe  - and North Devon generally - into the 21st century.

"Personally, as a resident who lives in Ilfracombe, it's not my favourite piece of art work."

One local, Erin_Rickard, wrote on Twitter: "In Ilfracombe watching 'Verity' take her place. Im in love and so proud that my home is receiving her @hirst_official thank you."

But another tweeter, LeeJohnBarnes, described it as "vile", while Hannie81 said: "Sorry Damien Hirst, I don't like #Verity. Not because of all the entrails but because of the baby bump and the outie belly button *shudder*"

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Jimmy Savile: Labour Demands New Abuse Inquiry

David Cameron could order a public inquiry into the Jimmy Savile scandal once BBC and police investigations are concluded, Downing Street has indicated.

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

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

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

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

The abuse allegations span six decades

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

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

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

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

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

New BBC boss George Entwistle

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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House Fire Deaths Leave Father 'Inconsolable'

A doctor who lost his wife and all but one of his five children in a suspected arson attack is "inconsolable", a colleague has said.

Dr Abdul Shakoor, who suffered minor injuries as he desperately tried to rescue his family from their Essex home, was seen escaping the inferno with a child in his arms, it has emerged.

The doctor is currently being treated at Broomfield hospital in Chelmsford after being moved there to be closer to his critically ill daughter - three-year-old Maheen, who is fighting for her life in a burns unit.

His wife Sabah Usmani, sons Sohaib, 11, and Rayan, six, and 12-year-old daughter Hira, died in their end-of-terrace house in Barn Mead, Harlow, in the early hours of Monday.

A Ford Focus was found blazing yards away from the house

A third son, Muneeb, nine, later died at the Princess Alexandra hospital, where Dr Shakoor worked and was also being treated until late last night. Police have not said which of the children he was able to bring outside.

One of Dr Shakoor's colleagues, Dr Purnami De Silva, who was leaving flowers near the family home, said: "It's so difficult to comprehend the gravity of what's gone on.

"As you would expect, he's inconsolable."

According to neighbours, Dr Shakoor had to be physically restrained from going back inside the property and police have said he "fought hard" to save his family.

Dr Shakoor with his wife, Sabah

Police, who have started a painstaking forensic examination of the house, are now investigating whether the family were not the intended targets of the attackers.

But they stressed it was an isolated incident and there was no evidence that a serial arsonist was involved. There had been no previous problems with racism in the area.

Dr Shakoor, who reportedly left from a first-floor window as flames engulfed the house, is said to be in "severe shock".

Witness reports suggest between one and four people were in the area at the time of the fire. Such sightings will form key lines of inquiry, police said.

A silver Ford Focus was found burning a short distance from the house when fire crews arrived at the address.

The vehicle was not connected to the family but that fire is also being treated as arson.

Among the flower tributes at the house, one message read: "RIP little angels and your special mummy xxx."

Lesley Lynn, headteacher at Abbotsweld Primary School where Sohaib, Rayan and Muneeb studied, said everybody had been left distraught by the "horrible tragedy".

She said: "They were intelligent and sociable with a good sense of humour, good at sports and much loved by everyone."

The Harlow Islamic Centre has described the family as "much-liked and respected".

Flowers have been left close to the scene

Detective Superintendent Rob Vinson, who is leading the investigation, said the local community could hold the answer to who was behind the attack.

He said: "Nobody expects such a catastrophic incident in their own neighbourhood."

Originally from Karachi, Pakistan, the couple had lived in Saudi Arabia, where the children were born, for more than a decade before moving to the UK.

Parvez Hamid, 43, and Safia Anwar, 38, said they had known the couple since they moved to Harlow and some of their children attended the nearby Abbotsweld Primary School together.

Mrs Anwar said: "They were a wonderful family. Their children were best friends with our own."

Neighbours raised the alarm after being woken in the early hours. It is thought some form of fuel may have been used to start the fire.

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Queen To Thank Diamond Jubilee Organisers

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will thank organisers and supporters of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations at a reception at Buckingham Palace tonight.

Guests will include those who helped stage the central weekend of events between June 2 and 5, as well as those who organised the Queen's 25-day nationwide tour.

Among more than 300 guests invited to the champagne reception will be Take That singer Gary Barlow, who was in charge of organising the Diamond Jubilee Concert.

Gary Barlow performed at the concert alongside Cheryl Cole

The singer-songwriter, who has just announced his 16-date solo tour, also co-wrote the official Diamond Jubilee song Sing with Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Barlow will be joined by chef Heston Blumenthal, who helped palace chefs create the menu for the Diamond Jubilee Picnic in the palace gardens.

The Duke of York and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are expected to attend alongside the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.

Guests will be received in the palace's White and Blue Drawing Rooms.

Thousands of people took part in the Jubilee celebrations in June

The event comes towards the end of a busy jubilee year in which the 91-year-old Duke of Edinburgh was twice admitted to hospital for bladder infections.

In recent weeks, the Queen, 86, was advised by doctors to rest instead of standing for a long period of time at a Buckingham Palace Investiture.

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Hillsborough: New Inquests Move Step Closer

The Attorney General has paved the way for new inquests into the deaths of 96 football fans in the Hillsborough tragedy by applying for the verdicts of the original hearing to be quashed.

The move comes after a report into the 1989 disaster revealed a cover-up that attempted to shift the blame for the tragedy on to its victims.

Dominic Grieve told the House of Commons: "I believe that these deaths, arising as they do from a common chain of events, should all be considered afresh.

"However, before reaching any final view on the scope of the application, I want to give the families affected the opportunity to make any representations in respect of the family member or members they lost.

"I will therefore be in contact with each family seeking views."

Mr Grieve said any criminal proceedings emerging from the fallout of the Hillsborough Panel Report, which said many of the victims could have survived and scores of police statements were altered to prevent criticism of officers, could affect when the new inquests could take place.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has said a "large number" of current and former officers will be investigated over their actions on the day of the tragedy and during the subsequent alleged cover-up.

Liverpool MP Steve Rotheram said the move "marks one of the biggest steps forward in the fight for justice for the families in 23 years".

"The undeniable fact is that the original inquest was unsound and this application, if successful, will mean that evidence will be able to be heard after the 3.15pm cut off imposed by the original Coroner in the 1989 inquests," he said.

"For the first time in over two decades, all the evidence can now be reviewed into the disaster and potentially a new verdict recorded on the death certificates of the deceased."

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