Halo Launched With UFO Over London

Hundreds of people stared into the skies of above London as a glowing disc appeared above Tower Bridge to mark the launch of the latest instalment of the Halo computer game franchise.

The Halo logo was suspended from a helicopter and flown over the capital's biggest landmarks as the Xbox 360 title went on sale.

The Halo franchise has already sold 46 million copies and the previous version made a total of $200m (£124m) in the first 24 hours following its launch.

Master Chief greets gamers waiting to buy the game

Microsoft hopes the return of Master Chief, the laconic green-armoured super-soldier protagonist of Halo, after a five-year hiatus will bring gamers out in droves.

Halo 4, which was launched simultaneously in 40 countries, is expected to outdo the box office takings of James Bond film Skyfall this weekend.

Halo 4 was launched simultaneously in 40 countries

The Halo series, made by Microsoft Game Studios, spearheaded the company's foray into gaming that began with the 2001 launch of the first Xbox console.

The Halo games, originally developed by Bungie, have been fundamental in giving the console a market lead over Sony's PlayStation and Nintendo's Wii and has generated revenues of $3bn.

Johnathan Ross with Master Chief at the launch event

However, it remains to be seen if the well-reviewed game can revive flagging video game sales or surpass Call Of Duty: Black Ops II, which goes on sale next week and is likely to vie for the title of 2012's top-selling game.

"Because there hasn't been a game to star Master Chief for five years, there's a bit of a pent-up demand," said Ryan McCaffrey of videogame website IGN.com.

"Call Of Duty has taken over as the most popular game on the Xbox, so I think it will be very close."

Halo 4 will be going head-to-head with the latest Call of Duty title

In Halo 4, Master Chief deals out death and destruction to evil aliens while embarking on a quest to save his longtime friend and artificial-intelligence construct Cortana.

:: The executive producer of Halo 4, Kiki Wolfkill, will be on Jeff Randall Live from 7pm tonight

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Missing Atiya: Mother's Plea for Information

The mother of a missing girl abducted by her father says she prays her "little bundle of joy" is safe and well, after being taken to Pakistan without her knowledge.

Gemma Wilkinson, 32, from Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, said not knowing whether five-year-old Atiya is even alive is an "absolute nightmare".

Atiya vanished in November 2009 after going to stay with her father, Razwan Ali Anjum.

The former insurance salesman said he was taking the girl to Southport. Instead he took her to Lahore, Pakistan, and told Ms Wilkinson she was "never going to see Atiya again", courts have heard.

Anjum, who is in his late 20s, returned to the UK shortly after and was jailed by a High Court judge for refusing to reveal where his daughter was.

Judges have imposed jail terms of two years, 12 months and another 12 months in the hope that he would provide information. They have re-jailed him as each sentence neared its end.

Speaking ahead of Atiya's sixth birthday on Wednesday, Ms Wilkinson said: "It's been an absolute nightmare. As to her whereabouts we know nothing. We've had no contact.

"I'm worrying every day, every single day. Everything is affected by it. When I close my eyes I see her.

"I say goodnight to her every night before bed. I pray she's okay. We don't have any proof that she's okay, there is no proof she is still alive.

How missing girl Atiya Anjum-Wilkinson might look at 4-5 years of age.

"It's been discussed that she could have been sold, but I don't want to believe it.

"She was so funny. She was a little bundle of joy. She loved her lip gloss and handbags - as soon as she got hold of my makeup bag, everything in it was hers. We just want her home."

Ms Wilkinson's "on-off" relationship with Anjum ended in 2008.

"He's enjoying playing his controlling mind games. It's just sick. Razwan is refusing to say where she is, who she's with and he won't say anything other than 'she's in Iran'," he said.

Detective Constable Emma Constantine, of Greater Manchester Police's Child Protection Unit, said: "As far as we know, Razwan has had no contact with Atiya himself.

"He's never received any letters or photographs of Atiya, so there's no way that he knows how she is."

Detective Superintendent Phil Owen added: "We're working with a range of international agencies in order to find out who may be harbouring her, but it presents its challenges and problems and hopefully this is now the time to tug at heart-strings and generate information from the public."

He argued Anjum "will convince himself that she's looked after" but that he couldn't know that.

:: Anyone with information should phone police on 101, the Foreign Commonwealth Office on 020 7008 0878 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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Cheap Christmas Stamps For Benefit Claimants

Benefit claimants are able to buy Christmas stamps at last year's prices under a Royal Mail scheme that starts today.

The move is designed to make sending season's greetings cards more affordable for those on lower incomes.

The Royal Mail's scheme allows eligible customers to buy a total of 36 first and second class stamps at 46p and 36p respectively.

Stamp prices increased to 60p and 50p in April.

Customers on pension credit, employment and support allowance or incapacity benefit are eligible to take part in the scheme, which runs until Christmas Eve.

The discount is available at all of the 11,500 Post Offices across the country, but customers need to show documents proving they are on the relevant benefits.

Stephen Agar, the Royal Mail's director of regulated business, said the scheme would help customers who are "facing extremely tight budgets this Christmas".

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Derby Fire: Third Person Appears In Court

By Lisa Dowd, Midlands Correspondent

A third person charged with the murders of six children who died in a house fire in Derby has appeared in court.

Paul Mosley, 45, from the city, was arrested on Monday.

He appeared at Derby Magistrates Court at a short hearing on Tuesday morning, wearing dark trousers and a black waterproof jacket.

He spoke only to confirm his name, age and address.

Mosley was sent for trial at Nottingham Crown Court and will appear on November 8 for a plea and case management hearing.

He is due to appear alongside the children's parents Mick Philpott, 55, and Mairead, 31, who have previously been charged with murder.

As Mosley was remanded in custody a number of members of the public were in tears.

Jade, 10, and brothers John, nine, Jack, eight, Jessie, six and Jayden, five, all died in the blaze on Victory Road, Allenton.

Their brother Duwayne, 13, died  three days later in hospital.

The children's parents Mick Philpott, 55, and Mairead, 31, have previously been charged with murder and are due to appear at a plea and case management hearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday.

A 49-year-old man, who was also arrested on Monday, has been released without charge.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cotterill said: "Three people have now been charged with the murder of these children.

"This man stands accused alongside Michael and Mairead Philpott.

"Our investigation will continue in an effort to gain justice for the children."

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Brent Cross Jewellery Shop Targeted In Raid

Four people on three motorbikes - armed with axes and bats - have raided a jewellers at a popular London shopping centre.

The suspects entered Brent Cross Shopping Centre shortly after 10.15am, fleeing with "a quantity of watches and jewellery", according to police.

They drove away in the direction of Hendon Central and the motorbikes were later found abandoned at a nearby golf course.

No injuries were reported but an elderly man at the scene was treated for shock.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said no firearms were seen.

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SMMT: New Car Registrations Up 12% In October

Sales of new cars have risen strongly in October compared with the same month last year despite weak European demand, industry figures have revealed.

The number of new car registrations shot up by over 12% to 151,252 vehicles, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Ford's Fiesta was the month's best-seller, and has been the most popular new car in the year so far.

In total, the new car market has increased by 5% over the year to date with more than 1.7m cars sold - 83,800 more than a year ago.

As a result, the SMMT revised up its forecast of full-year new car registrations to over two million units, from 1.94 million in 2011.

The organisation's chief executive said the figures show the UK continues to buck the trend of weak demand across the Europe as a whole.

"Despite uncertainty in the European economy, the UK new car market continues to grow," the SMMT's chief executive Paul Everitt said.

This slump in the region led carmakers Toyota and Nissan to revise down the total number of vehicles they expect to sell this year.

And Ford warned that its European operations would lose in excess of $1.5bn (£0.9bn) this year, after announcing almost 6,000 job losses and the closure of two factories in the UK and one in Belgium.

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Nadine Dorries Joins I'm A Celebrity

Conservative MP Nadine Dorries could face a backlash from her constituents after heading to Australia for up to a month to take part in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Ms Dorries, 55, who represents Mid Bedfordshire, is risking the anger of those she represents for taking extended leave from her £65,738-a-year day job and has also faced questions from senior MPs.

Ms Dorries' appearance on the show, which begins on Sunday, means she stands to miss an EU budget vote and Chancellor George Osborne's autumn statement on the economy.

She is already in Brisbane preparing for the programme and justified her decision by telling The Sun: "I'm doing the show because 16 million people watch it. If people are watching I'm A Celebrity, that is where MPs should be going.

"I'm not going in there to upset people, but I have opinions."

Her decision will infuriate senior colleagues as she did not follow long-standing party rules by asking permission from the Chief Whip or Prime Minister David Cameron.

A senior Conservative source told Sky News: "This came as a surprise to everyone."

George Galloway infamously pretended to be a cat on Celebrity Big Brother

Asked about Ms Dorries' decision during his tour of the Middle East, the Prime Minister said: "It's up to Nadine to speak for herself."

When asked if she risked losing the party whip, he joked: "The whips might be relieved if she did."

Home Secretary Theresa May told ITV's This Morning: "I think an MP's job is in their constituency and in the House of Commons."

Ms Dorries' sojourn in the jungle has attracted criticism on Twitter and calls for her to donate any fee to charity.

Former Tory MP Harry Greenway, said: "This is outrageous. Her local constituency party should think very deeply as to whether she is putting them first or not.

"She is certainly making a very good case for herself to be dumped as a candidate at the next election.

"Whatever fee she receives should go to charity, because her parliamentary pay won't stop during her absence."

Ms Dorries (r) was involved in a public spat with Lousie Mensch in August

Former Tory MP Louise Mensch, who gave up her Corby seat in August to live with her husband in America, wrote: "Nothing sadder than a politician, or ex-politician, on any of those shows.

"Just imagining the scene in the whips' office if I said I wanted to skip Parliament for weeks to go on a celebrity TV show."

Ms Dorries mocked Ms Mensch for her decision to leave politics and accused her of being "void of principle" in a blog in August.

The MP has also courted controversy in her political career and earned a reputation for outspoken attacks against David Cameron.

Earlier this year she branded the Prime Minister and chancellor George Osborne as "two posh boys who don't know the price of milk".

In 2010, Ms Dorries appeared on another reality show, Tower Block of Commons, which challenged politicians to live on a council estate and get by on jobseekers' allowance of £64.30-a-week.

But she was caught cheating when it emerged she had stashed a £50 note in her bra.

Although she is the first serving MP to appear on I'm A Celebrity, Liberal Democrat Lembit Opik appeared on the show shortly after losing his seat in the 2010 general election.

Lembit Opik, who appeared on the show in 2010, backed MS Dorries decision

He backed Ms Dorries' decision, tweeting: "Good on Nadine Dorries for the jungle if she's really going in. Go gal!"

George Galloway was heavily criticised for appearing on Celebrity Big Brother in January 2006, while serving as the MP for Bethnal Green and Bow.

MP Tim Montgomerie, the editor of Conservative Home, wrote: "When, some months ago, Nadine told me, in strictest confidence, that she was going to do this I tried to persuade her not to.

"But she wasn't for budging and I can increasingly understand why.

"Her ambition isn't, of course, to persuade any of the viewers about specific policies (she's unlikely to get any opportunity to talk in those terms) but perhaps, just perhaps, to present an image of a Tory MP that defies some of the popular pre-conceptions and caricatures.

"She may be voted off the show quickly and the popularity that follows her appearance may be a bubble that quickly bursts.

"There is a possibility, however, that this Liverpudlian of working class roots will become one of our party's best-known MPs.

"I don't think that's a bad thing - although I don't suspect David Cameron will agree."

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Met Detective Dies After Chasing Suspects

A 30-year-old female police officer has collapsed and died while chasing two suspected mobile phone thieves.

Detective Constable Adele Cashman, collapsed during the pursuit in Belsize Park Gardens in Camden, north London, at 9.45pm on Monday.

Police said a smartphone had been snatched out of the hand of a 59-year-old woman in Haverstock Hill and the "much-loved and wholly dedicated" officer chased after the two suspects.

Uniformed officers on duty in the area saw the chase and joined Det Con Cashman while requesting more help.

A 17-year-old boy was arrested at the junction of Belsize Grove and a second boy, also 17, was arrested and the phone recovered, Scotland Yard said.

The suspects remain in custody at police stations in north and central London.

A response team officer based at Kentish Town police station, Det Con Cashman was taken to the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, but died at 11.10pm.

Her family has been informed and inquiries into the circumstances surrounding her death are under way, the Metropolitan Police added.

Commander Tony Eastaugh said: "The thoughts of everyone in the Metropolitan Police Service are very much with Adele's family, friends and colleagues at this extremely difficult time.

"Adele worked on both Camden and Wandsworth boroughs and was held in high regard by all who met her."

"She will be sorely missed by everyone who had the privilege of working alongside her."

Acting Borough Commander Richard Tucker said: "Adele was a much-loved and wholly dedicated officer.

"We at Camden are completely devastated at her sudden passing and our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this tragically sad time."

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Rat In Hospital Causes Surgery Cancellations

A rat caused around 40 operations to be cancelled at a hospital after it was found in an operating theatre.

Pest controllers were called into King's Mill Hospital in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, after the rodent was discovered.

A hospital spokeswoman said they took immediate action after the rodent was spotted in a decommissioned operating theatre in the early hours of Monday last week.

All surgical procedures were halted at the hospital the following day and around 40 patients had their operations rearranged while the entire theatre area was cleansed and the pest control called in, she said.

Karen Tomlinson, director of operations at the hospital, said: "We are proud of our services and the extremely high quality of care we offer to our patients, so we were extremely shocked to learn that there was evidence of a rodent having entered a decommissioned operating theatre during the night, at a time when the department was not in use.

The rodent was found at King's Mill Hospital in Mansfield, Notts

"As soon as we became aware of this fact the following morning, we immediately took steps to thoroughly clean and sterilise the entire theatre area and called in external pest control experts to completely eradicate the problem.

"Whilst this work was under way, all surgical procedures were halted for one day and just over 40 patients had their operations rearranged. We have apologised to any patients affected for the inconvenience caused.

"I would like to reassure any concerned patient or relative that this was a minor, one-off incident that occurred over a week ago.

"We took immediate and comprehensive action to rectify matters and to restore services with the minimum of disruption. We are fully operational again. There is no cause for concern."

Rats can spread salmonella and carry the potentially fatal Weil's disease.

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David Black: Funeral For NI Prison Officer

The funeral has been held for murdered Northern Ireland prison officer David Black, as hundreds gathered in Belfast for a vigil in his memory.

The service took place in the father-of-two's native Cookstown with work colleagues carrying the coffin into the Molesworth Presbyterian Church.

Mr Black, 52, was shot on Northern Ireland's M1 motorway early in the morning of November 1 as he drove to the top-security Maghaberry jail near Lisburn, County Antrim.

Hundreds gathered in Belfast for a vigil during the funeral in Cookstown

He had spent more than 30 years in the prison service and the attack is believed to have been carried out by dissident republicans.

His wife Yvonne appealed for no retaliation for the killing, which has been condemned by politicians on all sides.

She said in a statement: "Grief and sadness in another home will achieve nothing."

David Black was a married father-of-two

Meanwhile  in Belfast, the vigil was held at the gates of City Hall at the same time as the funeral.

A a lone piper played laments during the memorial event.

It was arranged by trade union leaders to give people an opportunity to pay their respects and voice their opposition to violence.

Members of a range of trade unions held up banners while bowing their heads as a mark of respect.

Among notable attendees was Ulster Defence Association leader Jackie McDonald.

Peter Bunting, assistant general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, said it was a poignant occasion.

"It gave people an opportunity to express their abhorrence at violence and the murder of David Black," he said.

"And also to show sympathy and solidarity with the Black family and the Prison Officers' Association.

The scene where Mr Black was shot on the M1 motorway

"We represent 215,000 members, who are sending a very clear message that this violence is not in our name.

Mr Buntin added: "Whether those who did this will listen is another thing."

Three people have been arrested, and later released, on both sides of the Irish border in connection with the murder.

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