The Commitments Committed To Stage Show

A West End version of Irish soul saga The Commitments will open later this year, the writer of the original novel has announced.

The story, about working class Dubliners who form an unlikely soul band, was made into a hit film in 1991 and will now open on the London stage in October.

A young Irish cast will play all their own instruments in The Commitments: The Saviours Of Soul, which will be playing at the Palace Theatre.

However, none of the cast of the Bafta-winning film will appear due to their age.

Author Roddy Doyle said he started scripting the project after seeing the Frankie Valli musical Jersey Boys.

The 54-year-old said the production changed his mind about musical theatre, which was something he did not previously like.

"What I loved about it was the songs were terrific, but the songs didn't interrupt the story and the story didn't interrupt the songs," explained Doyle.

"That, above all others, nudged me in the direction I wanted to go."

The stars from The Commitments movie will be absent on stage

The stage version will be set in 1986 - the year Doyle wrote the book - and producers are promising a show packed with soul classics.

Doyle said the soundtrack was still currently a work in progress due to rights issues and "experimenting with which songs are right for the story".

The Irish author also joked about the decision to put on the show without any of the cast from the popular film version.

"We're all mortal," said Doyle. "And I think most of them accept the fact that they're lacking in hair."

The hero of The Commitments, Jimmy Rabbitte, is now set to reappear in Doyle's next novel, The Guts, which is due out in August.

In the book, the final part of Doyle's Barrytown trilogy, the young would-be impresario has become a 47-year-old father-of-four with bowel cancer.

The Commitments: The Saviours Of Soul opens on October 8, with previews from September 21.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Abandoned Baby Alia Was Alive When Born

A newborn baby found abandoned by dog walkers was not stillborn, police have revealed.

Detectives believe the girl, given the name Alia, lived for a short period of time after her birth.

They have released images of items which were recovered along with her body in the hope of tracing her parents.

The child was discovered shortly before 4.55pm on Thursday March 14 in Ox Hey Lane, Lostock, near Bolton, by a man and woman out walking their dog.

The cotton trousers found at the scene

She had been wrapped in clothing and placed inside a plastic bag, and there was a message requesting that she receive an Islamic burial.

Following discussions with the Bolton Council of Mosques, detectives named her Alia, meaning beautiful.

A specialist neonatologist has established that she was born alive and lived independently of her mother for up to two hours.

However, the cause of her death has yet to be established, as does her ethnicity.

Three items recovered along with her body included a Tesco bag, with the words "Please please bury him Islamic way please please" written on it in English

It is believed baby Alia was wrapped in a white shirt and cotton trousers and placed in this bag, which was in turn placed in a JD Sports bag.

A pair of three-quarter length, paint-stained cotton trousers were also found at the scene.

Detective Inspector Aaron Duggan, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "Despite the passage of time, our primary concern still remains the welfare of baby Alia's parents, in particular her mother.

"She was found almost six weeks ago and we still need to make sure both mum and dad are OK, both physically and mentally.

The JD Sports bag in which the Tesco bag was placed

"This will have been a traumatic experience for them, particularly if they are young."

DI Duggan added: "What we don't know, and what we are trying to establish, is how, where and when she died and when she was placed at Ox Hey Lane and by whom.

"I want people to think about someone that perhaps they knew or suspected was, up until recently, pregnant and, coupled with these images, now think they know who the mother or father is and to call us in confidence.

"I want to appeal to the parents directly to come forward, to talk to us and explain what happened to their daughter. I want to reassure them that specialist help is still available if required."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 5448, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

World War One Soldiers Laid To Rest In France

The remains of two First World War soldiers have been laid to rest in a cemetery in northern France, almost 100 years after they were killed in action.

Lieutenant John Harold Pritchard and Private Christopher Douglas Elphick, of The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC), were re-interred in the HAC Cemetery at Ecoust-St Mein near Arras.

Relatives of both men, who were killed on May 15, 1917, during an enemy attack near Bullecourt, while serving with the NAC's 2nd Battalion, attended the ceremony, where the men were accorded full military honours.

Prince Michael of Kent also attended in his capacity as HAC Royal Honorary Colonel.

The men's remains were found in a field near Bullecourt in 2009.

Lt Pritchard was identified by a silver bracelet and Pte Elphick by a signet ring bearing his initials.

Two further sets of remains could not be identified, but they were re-interred at the same time as "HAC soldiers known unto God".

The HAC, the oldest regiment in the British Army, was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1537 by King Henry VIII.

Lt Pritchard, born in Wandsworth, southwest London, in 1886, was the eldest of three boys in a family of seven.

He attended St Paul's Cathedral School and was a chorister at the cathedral.

He worked as an inspector at the Alliance Assurance Company before joining the HAC in 1909.

Pte Elphick was born in Dulwich, south London, in 1889 and attended Alleyn's School before becoming a clerk at the Prudential Insurance Company in 1904, then joined the HAC in 1916.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Millwall FA Cup Violence: Four More Arrested

Three men suspected of violence at an FA Cup semi-final between Millwall and Wigan have been arrested in morning raids and one has handed himself in, police have said.

In total, 27 people have been arrested in connection with the clashes at the April 13 match at Wembley Stadium, Scotland Yard said.

Three people have been charged.

In addition, a further 17 images have been released of people at the match whom police want to speak to.

The images of violence were seen by millions on television

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Barnes, who is leading the investigation, said: "We expect to make further arrests.

"Our message is clear. Violence at football is unacceptable. If you were involved in the violence come forward and speak with us.

"We will pursue all those responsible."

The police raids happened in London

During the second half of Millwall's 2-0 loss to Wigan, around 20 Millwall fans were involved in clashes behind the goal.

The disturbing scenes, which were witnessed by millions on television, left some fans bloodied and youngsters in tears.

The three men arrested in Tuesday's raids, aged 21, 22 and 27, were picked up at addresses in London by officers from Operation Arrowtip, which targets football-related crime.

A 34-year-old man has handed himself in at a police station in south London and was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.

Anyone with information about the violence or who recognises the people in the pictures is urged to call police on 020 8246 0076 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Measles Cases Hit New High Of 886 In Wales

The number of people infected with measles has shot up by 78 in just five days, taking the total who have contracted the disease in southwest Wales to 886.

Public Health Wales (PHW) revealed the latest number of people affected as officials urgently called for more to get vaccinated.

The fresh call comes following the death of a 25-year-old father-of-one from Swansea, who had the disease.

PHW director of health protection Dr Marion Lyons warned the current epidemic is showing no signs of ending.

"There is still an urgent need to vaccinate more children if we are going to end this outbreak," she added.

More than a week ago people used drop-in centres for the MMR jab

"The hardest-hit age group is those between 10 and 18 so we would remind those young people and their parents that now is the time to be vaccinated.

"We have seen in the last few days that measles can be potentially fatal and no one should be complacent about the severity of measles.

"It can kill but can be prevented by a simple, safe vaccine."

PHW said its latest figures related to cases of measles between November 1 last year and April 22 this year.

Of that total, 712 have been in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg area while 99 were in the Hywel Dda region and 75 in Powys' health board zone.

Typical symptoms of measles include fever, cough, conjunctivitis and a rash.

Complications are quite common even in healthy people, and about 20% of reported measles cases experience one or more complication.

These can include ear infections, vomiting and diarrhoea, pneumonia, meningitis and serious eye disorders.

Gareth Colfer-Williams died last week at his home

Before the introduction of the MMR jab in 1988, about half a million children caught measles each year in the UK. Approximately 100 of those died.

While the latest epidemic is centred on Swansea, cases have continued to be reported across Wales.

Last week, PHW revealed that tests are to be carried out on the body of Gareth Colfer-Williams, 25, who died at his home in Swansea on April 18.

While Mr Colfer-Williams had measles, officials are still trying to establish whether it was the disease that killed him.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Becky Godden Murder: Mother's Plea To Killer

A mother whose daughter was murdered has pleaded with the man who led police to her daughter's remains to "come clean".

Karen Edwards urged taxi driver Christopher Halliwell to confess to killing Rebecca Godden, who was known as Becky.

Halliwell, 49, is serving life imprisonment after admitting murdering Swindon office worker Sian O'Callaghan, 22.

A narrative verdict was recorded at an inquest into Miss Godden's death on Tuesday.

Oxfordshire Coroner Darren Salter said it was likely that she had died an "unnatural and violent" death due to an "unlawful act of a third party".

Miss Godden, 20, who turned to prostitution after becoming addicted to heroin, was murdered and buried in a shallow grave on farmland in a Cotswold beauty spot.

Pathologists were unable to ascertain the cause of death due to the length of time between the body being buried and it being found.

The family of Miss Godden listened to detailed post-mortem reports about the state of her decomposed body. Her mother, Karen Edwards, cried as the court heard that her skull, arms and parts of her feet were missing. They have never been found.

Halliwell admitted her murder but was not charged because he had not been cautioned by the police.

Halliwell pleaded guilty to the murder of Sian O'Callaghan

Speaking after the inquest, Mrs Edwards appealed directly to the father-of-three.

"I feel that, as her mum, I will get to the root of this even if it's with the last breath in my body; I will get a conviction of some description," she said, fighting back tears.

"And I'd also like to appeal to Christopher Halliwell - this is your chance now. Come clean, please, please, what have you got to lose?

"My personal opinion, I don't think he's ever going to come out, so why not put everyone out of their misery?"

Mrs Edwards said: "What I would like to do today is appeal to anybody out there who knows anything at all - any tiny, tiny, little bit of evidence - anything that may help to convict Becky's murderer.

"Any tiny little thing and I would be eternally grateful... just please get in touch with the police.

"This is still very much an open murder investigation. The police are working very, very hard behind the scenes and I would like to think that I am working with them.

"I want Becky's murderer found and I want a conviction."

The inquest heard that the last positive sighting of Miss Godden, then aged 20, was by a police officer on December 27, 2002, in the Manchester Road area of Swindon.

Her family did not know where she was and thought she was living in the Bristol area.

It was not until police knocked on their door on what would have been her 29th birthday - April 4, 2011 - that they discovered the horrific truth.

She had broken off contact with her family after saying she could not put her mother through the pain of watching her succumb to drugs.

Her family had previously paid for private rehabilitation treatment in an effort to help her "get clean".

Detectives had been led to the field in Eastleach, Gloucestershire, by Halliwell in March 2011.

He had confessed to killing Miss Godden and Miss O'Callaghan, taking Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher to where he hid their bodies.

But Mr Fulcher's failure to follow the rules meant the murder charge in Miss Godden's case had to be dropped.

The hearing also heard that the police investigation remains open and officers are determined to bring Miss Godden's murderer to justice.

Detective sergeant Peter Ritson said police were working on the basis that Miss Godden died in either December 2002 or early 2003. He added that there was no known location for her death.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Independent Scotland Could Lose The Pound

George Osborne has warned Scotland there is no guarantee it can retain the pound if it becomes independent.

The Chancellor said independence would force Scotland to adopt new currency arrangements, which would be a "very deep dive into uncharted waters".

The Scottish Government has outlined plans to keep the pound if the country becomes independent after next year's referendum.

But in a new report, the Treasury said the economic case for creating a "sterling zone" was not clear and cast doubt on whether a deal could be reached.

Mr Osborne, launching the report in Glasgow, said the analysis showed the imperative to agree a currency union would be less strong for the UK than for Scotland.

"Why would 58 million citizens give away some of their sovereignty over monetary and potentially other economic policy to give million people in another state?" he asked.

He added: "Could a situation where an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK share the pound and the Bank of England be made to work? Frankly, it's unlikely."

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond is pushing for independence

With a currency union off the table, the only other options are for Scotland to unilaterally keep the pound, to create its own currency or to join the euro.

 "All of these alternative currency arrangements are less suitable economically than we have now for both Scotland and the rest of the UK," Mr Osborne said.

He added: "The conclusion is clear - the pound we share works well. The saying goes 'If it ain't broke, why fix it?' but I say 'If it ain't broke, don't break it'.

"The alternatives to the way Scotland now uses the pound are second best. Is second best really good enough for Scotland and for all our United Kingdom? We are better together."

The Scottish Government wants a "sterling zone" and economic experts there have concluded it is "sensible" and an attractive choice for the rest of the UK.

But the Treasury report said it "would only be possible if both an independent Scotland and the continuing UK could reach an agreement that satisfied both countries' economic interests".

It argues a formal sterling currency union would be "very different to the current arrangements and would be a profound economic change for both states".

Scottish banks currently issue their own sterling notes

An independent Scotland would "need to agree a negotiated set of constraints on its economic and fiscal policies", the report said.

It added: "In practice, this would be likely to require rigorous oversight of Scotland's economic and fiscal plans by both the new Scottish and the continuing UK authorities.

"Even with constraints in place, the economic rationale for the UK to agree to enter a formal sterling union with a separate state is not clear.

"The recent experience of the euro area has shown that it is extremely challenging to sustain a successful formal currency union without close fiscal integration and common arrangements for the resolution of banking sector difficulties."

The paper argues the "current currency and monetary policy arrangements within the UK serve Scotland well", describing the UK as "one of the most successful monetary, fiscal and political unions in history".

It concluded: "All of the alternative currency arrangements would be likely to be less economically suitable for both Scotland and the rest of the UK."

It also claims both the Scottish and UK governments would need to agree for the commercial banks in an independent Scotland to continue issuing sterling notes as part of a currency union.

The Treasury has said the role of the Bank of England, as the central bank of the UK responsible for issuing notes by all commercial banks, would have to be reviewed under independence.

First Minister Alex Salmond accused Mr Osborne of "scaremongering" as he insisted a "sterling zone" would be the best option for both sides.

He told Sky News: "It would be good for Scotland and it would be overwhelmingly in the interests of the rest of the United Kingdom.

"The only things you would need in terms of a fiscal sustainability agreement is an agreement on borrowing levels and debt levels but all countries have to observe borrowing and debt levels.

"You would have control over your taxation policy and spending policy. That's what independence means in a fiscal sense."

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lindsay Sandiford: Gran On Death Row Appeals

Lawyers representing a British woman on death row in Bali have lodged an appeal against her sentence.

Lindsay Sandiford, 56, was sentenced to death by firing squad by a court in Bali in January for taking £1.6m of cocaine on to the island last year.

On Monday Sandiford lost an appeal over the UK Government's refusal to fund her legal challenge against her death sentence.

Even though she did not have enough funds, with the deadline on Tuesday approaching, her lawyers decided to lodge the appeal anyway.

But, after organising a fundraising drive through the Just Giving website, she now has the £8,000 she needs to pay for legal representation so the appeal can go ahead.

Her cause was boosted massively by a mid afternoon donation of £1,800 from a man calling himself Victor Leversha.

Sandiford was in a race against time to raise the money to take her case to Indonesia's Supreme Court in Jakarta as the deadline expires at midnight Tuesday local time (5pm GMT).

Her lawyer, Fadillah Agus, said on Tuesday morning: "I lodged an official notification to appeal to the Supreme Court through the district court in (Bali's capital) Denpasar."

Sandiford lost her first appeal to the Bali High Court

The lawyer said a document would be submitted to the country's supreme court in Jakarta, on the neighbouring island of Java, within 14 days outlining the grounds for her appeal.

After that the Supreme Court would likely make a decision at a closed hearing in two to four months.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) had refused to fund her case because it said it was against Government policy.

The FCO reiterated the UK's opposition to the death penalty and said it had repeatedly made representations to the Indonesian government about the case.

Her execution by firing squad had been scheduled for May 7, if she did not appeal.

If the Supreme Court also rejects her appeal, she can then seek a judicial review of the decision from the same court.

After that, only the president can grant her a reprieve. But experts say those found guilty of serious offences are rarely reprieved.

Balinese police said Sandiford was at the centre of a drugs-importing ring involving three other Britons.

Sandiford is from Cheltenham

But the grandmother, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, claimed she was forced to transport the drugs to protect her children whose safety was at stake.

She received the death sentence despite prosecutors asking only for a 15-year jail term, after she was accused of damaging the image of Bali.

Sandiford told those who have donated money towards her appeal that she has been humbled by the experience as she deals with "the ultimate emotional rollercoaster ride".

In a message sent to supporters, she said: "I cannot thank you enough for your generosity and caring. I've always been an independent person and I hate not to be able to pay my way.

"So for me this is a very humbling experience having to rely on the kindness of strangers and (I'm) very deeply touched.

"I know I have been difficult to deal with as the situation I am in leads to the ultimate emotional rollercoaster ride. (The charity Reprieve) have been brilliant."

She also thanked UK charity Prisoners Abroad for "quietly" supporting her with funds for drinking water and food.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Qatada: New Court Blow For Theresa May

Court of Appeal judges have rejected the Government's bid to take their fight to deport Abu Qatada to the Supreme Court.

The ruling is the latest blow to Home Secretary Theresa May, who is battling to send the radical cleric back to Jordan to face terror charges.

Now the only avenue left is for the Home Office to appeal directly to the Supreme Court - which it immediately vowed to do.

A spokesman said: "We are disappointed with the Court of Appeal's decision but will now request permission to appeal directly from the Supreme Court.

"The Government remains committed to deporting this dangerous man and we continue to work with the Jordanians to address the outstanding legal issues preventing deportation."

Theresa May arriving for Cabinet on Tuesday

The normal process is to submit a permission to appeal application which would then be considered by three Supreme Court justices.

They would decide whether or not the application raised a point of law of general public importance.

The Government had been trying to launch an appeal after the Court of Appeal last month rejected the latest in a long line of attempts to deport the terror suspect.

In March, judges backed an earlier ruling by immigration judges that he could not be deported due to fears that evidence obtained through torture would be used against him.

Qatada, who featured in hate sermons found on videos in the flat of one of the 9/11 bombers, has for eight years thwarted every attempt by the Government to put him on a plane.

A resident in the UK since September 1993, he was returned to jail last month after he was arrested for alleged bail breaches.

A hearing over whether he should be granted bail again was due to be held last month, but was delayed.

Police searched Qatada's family home in London before he was held and have since said that he is being investigated over extremist material.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said Mrs May's strategy had "completely failed" and warned it could lead to Qatada being released.

"The Home Secretary must tell us urgently what she is going to do now to get Abu Qatada deported or tried, and keep him off our streets," she said.

"What is Theresa May going to do now? Is she going back to Jordan? Is she going to seek to prosecute Abu Qatada here instead? We need to know."

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Doping Scandal: Ladbrokes To Refund £200,000

Ladbrokes have announced they are to refund £200,000 worth of bets placed on horses which have tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.

The news comes as British racing faces its biggest-ever doping scandal after 11 horses at one of the country's top racing stables tested positive for anabolic steroids.

Trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni will have to attend a disciplinary hearing and faces a lengthy ban from the sport after admitting administering the drugs at the Godolphin stables in Newmarket.

The positive tests at the stables owned by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum were revealed after spot tests on 45 horses by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

The animals who failed included Certify, the ante-post favourite for next month's 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, and 2012 Royal Ascot Gold Cup runner-up Opinion Poll.

Mr Al Zarooni admitted that he had administered two steroids but he claimed he did not know it was an offence to use the drugs when the horses were not racing.

In a statement, he said: "I deeply regret what has happened. I have made a catastrophic error.

"Because the horses involved were not racing at the time, I did not realise that what I was doing was in breach of the rules of racing.

Sheikh Mohammed congratulating his jockey after winning the Dubai World Cup

"I can only apologise for the damage this will cause to Godolphin and to racing generally."

The episode is deeply embarrassing for Godolphin's patron Sheikh Mohammed, who has invested hundreds of millions of pounds in British racing over the last 20 years.

His racing manager Simon Crisford said the findings marked a "dark day" for the stables.

"His Highness Sheikh Mohammed was absolutely appalled when he was told and this is completely unacceptable to him.

"We will await the outcome of the BHA inquiry before taking any further internal action.

"Sheikh Mohammed has instructed me to begin an urgent review of all of our procedures and controls. That is already underway and we will take advice from the BHA in completing it," he said.

It is highly unusual for performance-enhancing drugs to be revealed by doping tests in racing.

Most of the 25-30 positive tests revealed in an average year are for medication used in breach of the rules.

The samples were taken from the Godolphin stables in Moulton Paddocks, Newmarket, on April 9.

Seven horses were found to have ethylestranol in their system, and four the drug stanozolol, the steroid used by disgraced Olympic sprinter Ben Johnson at the Seoul Olympics.

Adam Brickell, director of integrity, legal and risk for the BHA, said: "Ethylestranol and stanozolol are anabolic steroids and therefore prohibited substances under British Rules of Racing, at any time - either in training or racing."

He added: "The horses which have produced positive tests will also not be permitted to race with immediate effect and for an extended period of time.

"As part of the ongoing process a decision will be made as to what period this suspension will be imposed for."

The National Trainers Federation's chief executive Rupert Arnold said he had been "shocked" by the test results.

"The Godolphin management, for whom Mr Al Zarooni trains, is a byword for the highest levels of professionalism, integrity and sportsmanship," he said.

"News reports so far suggest this case is an aberration and is not indicative of wider use of anabolic steroids in British horseracing.

"We fully endorse the British Horseracing Authority's testing in training regime and all efforts to prevent the use of any prohibited substance to gain an unfair advantage.

"Without wanting to diminish the seriousness of this case, in some ways it is a positive message that the presence of these substances was detected so the sport is kept clean."

The Godolphin stable was founded in 1992 and has won more than 2,000 races worldwide, with winners in 14 countries.

Mr Al Zarooni has trained a series of big-race winners since joining Sheikh Mohammed's operation three years ago.

They include the richest race in the world - the Dubai World Cup - with Monterosso last March, and then the St Leger at Doncaster with Encke in September.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More