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Murder Victim's Boots Discovered In Pond

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 27 Mei 2014 | 23.17

Police have been searching a pond and nearby woodland where boots belonging to the victim of a convicted murderer were found.

A stash of what is believed to be women's clothes was also discovered near the site in Ramsbury near Marlborough, Wiltshire.

Sian O'Callaghan, 22, was killed by minicab driver Christopher Halliwell in March 2011.

She had been abducted after leaving a nightclub in Swindon.

In October 2012, Halliwell pleaded guilty to her murder and was sentenced to life in prison.

Shotgun found by Sian O'Callaghan police A shotgun was also found in the pond

Detectives have not ruled out the possibility that he may have more victims.

The pond was searched by divers. A "left" boot was discovered on May 15 and then the "right" one was found a day later.

Officers then drained the pond to allow a fingertip search on the bottom. Police also found a shotgun there.

Sian O'Callaghan Victim: Sian O'Callaghan

Ms O'Callaghan had been stabbed in the head and neck. She was not shot.

In addition, police also discovered a pile of items, some 100m away from the pond.  

Up to 60 items, possibly women's clothing, were found buried under a few inches of mud.

Christopher Halliwell Killer: Christopher Halliwell

A "chunky knit cardigan" was also discovered near the pond. 

Detectives do not believe these clothes belonged to Ms O'Callaghan.


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Charles Wants 'Tough Decisions' On Climate

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

Prince Charles has told a gathering of business leaders and investors in the City they must make "tough choices" that will make them unpopular to halt climate change.

In his first public engagement since comparing the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler, the Prince of Wales delivered a speech at the "Inclusive Capitalism" conference at the Mansion House and Guildhall in London.

He told the conference, whose members represented 37 countries and who have a combined asset worth of $30trn: "We stand at a pivotal moment".

"Either we continue on the path we seem collectively determined to follow, apparently at the mercy of those who vociferously and aggressively deny that our current model has any effect upon dangerously accelerating climate change, which I fear will bring us to our own destruction, or we can choose to act now before it is finally too late," he said.

Bill Clinton Former US President Bill Clinton was among speakers at the conference

Sticking to the script, Prince Charles avoided any reference to comments he made last week in Canada in which he was reported to have compared Mr Putin's actions in Ukraine with those of the Nazi leader during World War Two.

Referring to the creation of an inclusive, sustainable and resilient society, the Prince said: "There will be tough choices to make, and, take it from me, in the short term, you will not be popular with your peers.

"But if you stand firm and take the kind of action that is needed, I have every confidence the rewards will be immense."

The conference, attended by keynote speakers former US President Bill Clinton, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde and Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney, is the brainchild of Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild - chief executive of E. L. Rothschild.

The Prince began by telling the conference he was "somewhat bewildered be being asked to join such a stratospheric group of financial, economic and business experts".

He said: "At the end of the day, the primary purpose of capitalism should surely be to serve the wider long-term interests and concerns of humanity, rather than the other way round."


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Harris 'Had Sexual Affair' With Complainant

By Nick Pisa, Sky News Reporter

Entertainer Rolf Harris has admitted in court that he is a "touchy feely sort of person" but denied ever indecently assaulting women.

Harris, 84, was giving evidence at his trial where he is accused of targeting four victims including a friend of his daughter Bindi.

Dressed in a dark pin-striped suit and tie he was specifically asked about the allegation involving his daughter's friend during a family holiday in 1978.

Southwark Crown Court heard the woman was 13 when Harris allegedly assaulted her in a Hawaii hotel room after she took a shower, and on a beach.

She has told the court she was assaulted by Harris in Australia later on the same holiday, claiming he touched her as she lay in bed next to a sleeping Bindi.

Harris said: "I have no recollection of that," adding it "never happened".

Rolf Harris Trial Continues At Southwark Crown Court The entertainer denies 12 counts of indecent assault

His defence barrister Sonia Woodley asked him if he had ever hugged the woman to which he replied: "Yes, I have hugged her. I'm a touchy feely sort of person. I normally hug anyone that I get on on with."

When asked by Ms Woodley if he had ever done it in a sexual way he replied: "No," before going on to deny assaulting the woman after she stepped out of the shower.

Harris said his relationship with the alleged victim "changed slowly" and "became physical" when she turned 18 years old.

Harris admitted he felt "highly embarrassed" by it as well as having a "guilty feeling".

He recalled going into the spare room of his house in Bray to take the alleged victim a cup of tea when she "kicked off the duvet to reveal her bare legs".

Australian artist Rolf Harris poses for The court heard about his professional career and portrait of the Queen

He added: "She grabbed my elbow and seemed to indicate she wanted me to sit on the bed, which I did. It seemed to me she was being very flirtatious. 

"It was very flattering, this young lady showing an interest in me."

Harris, who was 53 at the time, said he "touched the outside of her leg" before leaving the room.

He added: "This is all highly embarrassing. I was a married man, she was much younger. I shouldn't have been doing it."

When asked by Ms Woodley if he thought the victim was a "willing participant" he replied "Yes."

He went on to say that a "sexual chemistry" developed between the pair.

Harris insisted she was "willing" and added: "It was illicit, I had a guilty feeling. I was a married man, it was...she was Bindi's friend."

Harris also said the couple had oral sex in a secluded wood near his home and again said the woman had "started it" adding "she instigated the whole thing". 

Harris denies 12 counts of assaulting four women aged between seven or eight and 19 years old between 1968 and 1986.

Earlier he told the court about his showbusiness and singing career, at one point briefly singing his hit song Jake The Peg.

There was laughter in court as he imitated the noise of his trademark "wobble board" and moved his arms to show the technique.

Ms Woodley told the jury Harris had two paintings exhibited at the Royal Academy and had painted a portrait of the Queen.


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Flooding Threatened As Heavy Rain Forecast

Parts of Britain have been warned to brace for flash flooding over the next 48 hours.

The Met Office has issued a yellow "be aware" warning across the East of England, with persistent rain - heavy at times - threatening localised flooding and travel disruption.

The areas worst-affected by the wet weather are expected to be Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire and the Humber where up to 70mm of rain could fall.

Flood warning A yellow weather warning of rain has been issued for the east of England

The Environment Agency (EA) also warned of a flood risk in the east, mainly from surface water and low-lying rivers.

Sky Weather Presenter Jo Wheeler said: "Eastern parts of the country will see some significant rainfall over the next 24 hours or so, with Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire and the Humber potentially seeing  70mm of rain.

"This would be enough to cause some unpleasant driving conditions and some flash flooding.

"The rain will not be exclusive to the east, but heaviest there whilst much of the country will see some wet weather at times."

The EA has issued 10 low-level flood alerts in the South East and the Midlands, mainly warning of groundwater flooding close to rivers.

The agency said: "There may be some flooding of low-lying land and roads, some disruption to travel and possibly flooding to individual properties."


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Tattoo Parlours Buzz With High Street Growth

Tattoo parlours have become the big growth sector in Britain's town centres, according to research data.

The Local Data Company (LDC) said that as of last week, the number of shops ringing to the buzz of the tattoo gun has reached a total of 1,014 in the top 650 British towns.

That figure was up more than 4.5% from its 2013 research, which showed there were 970 parlours in the town centres.

LDC said that between 2009 and 2013, the growth rate of tattoo parlours in the town centres topped 141%.

In comparison, it said in the same period charity shops expanded by a rate of 36%, to 5,010 outlets.

Betting shops increased by 32% to 2,943 and chain coffee stores by 29% to 1,981.

The number of people going under the needle in the name of art has increased significantly in the last two decades.

Fulham Tattoo Centre artist Steli Pop, who works at a parlour established more than 30 years ago, told Sky News: "Celebrities and footballers have helped attract people.

"It doesn't matter so much about your social place now, whereas years ago it was only the bad and sailors who got them."

Skin art has also become a favourite pursuit for some urban-dwelling, counter-culture 'hipsters'.

But the growth in parlours may be halted with a return to health of the high street.

Cheryl Cole's tattoo revealed by artist Footballers, and celebrities like Cheryl Cole, have helped boost popularity

LDC director Matthew Hopkinson told Sky News: "My views are that the rise in these business types reflects the significant changes taking place where large retailers such as Woolworths with over 800 shops have left the high street and others such as Arcadia and many others are reducing the number of shops they have.

"This results in a large oversupply of empty shops as reflected by the rise in vacancy rates, which results in greater opportunity at much lower costs for these alternative high street uses to occupy town centres and at a significantly cheaper cost than pre-2008.

Mr Hopkinson added: "An unknown question going forward is that if and when there is a business rates revaluation and stock levels reduce as shops are made into alternative uses then the profitability and therefore occupancy levels of these business types might change rapidly."

Mr Pop added: "Eventually the lower end of the market could struggle.

"Some of them don't make a lot of money, they aren't good artists or businesspeople and are notorious for copying designs straight off the internet."


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Tracey Emin's Unmade Bed Up For Auction

Tracey Emin's controversial artwork, My Bed, has been put up for sale by collector Charles Saatchi.

The notorious installation, which includes empty vodka bottles, cigarette butts, stained sheets and used underwear, is estimated to sell for between £800,000 and £1.2m.

My Bed, which the artist claimed was the result of a bad break-up, divided critics in 1999 when it was shortlisted for the Turner Prize.

Emin, then known as one of the Young British Artists (YBAs), lost out to the now Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen but has become one of the nation's most famous artists.

Tracey Emin Opens The New Turner Contemporary Gallery In Margate Exhibitions of Emin's work attract huge numbers of visitors

The 50-year-old told The Daily Telegraph the sale feels "like the end of an era. Saatchi's had this Nineties thing in his house like a time capsule. Now it's historical".

Saatchi, who bought the work for £150,000 in 2000, is clearing out 50 of his largest installations and sculptures. My Bed is going on sale with Christies in London.

In 2010 Saatchi offered to donate the best of his private collection, including My Bed and worth around £30m, to the nation for free.

However, his offer was withdrawn when the Arts Council reportedly said it wanted to pick and choose which pieces it would put on display.

Proceeds made from this sale are expected to go towards maintaining the Saatchi Gallery's free admission and education policy.


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Blair Brands UKIP 'Nasty And Unpleasant'

Former prime minister Tony Blair has taken a swipe at UKIP, saying beneath the facade lurks something "pretty nasty and unpleasant".

Mr Blair said it was time to "confront and expose" reactionary forces like Nigel Farage's party and the National Front in France.

He said they did not have any "actual solution to the problem of the 21st century".

And he cautioned Labour leader Ed Miliband not to try to pursue an anti-immigration agenda to stave off the threat from UKIP, saying it would only confuse voters.

Mr Blair said Britain could only yield power and influence in the world through alliances and the collective bargaining power of Europe.

In an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the former Labour leader praised the beleaguered Nick Clegg for his  "courage" and "leadership".

Ed Miliband eats a bacon sandwich Ed Miliband has also been criticised over Labour's election performance

Mr Blair said: "We are confronted by what I think are these very reactionary forces. We have to confront them, expose them and take them on ... you have got to take on and expose the fact these parties have no actual solutions to the problem of the 21st century."

He said the rationale for being a part of Europe was power and added: "For a country like Britain, if you want to exercise weight and power and influence, you have got to do it through alliances and the obvious alliance for us is the one literally on our doorstep."

He advised Mr Miliband, who has himself faced criticism from his own party for a poor showing in the local and European elections, to "stay firm", saying the Conservatives had yielded to pressure from UKIP and it had not helped them.

He said: "For the Labour Party, if it decides to follow UKIP either on its anti-Europe platform or even worse, frankly, on its anti-immigration platform, then all that will happen is that it will confuse its own supporters and it won't actually draw any greater support."

Nick Clegg Mr Blair has backed Mr Clegg for showing 'courage'

Mr Blair added he did not think supporting the EU was the deciding factor in the Liberal Democrats' poor performance.

"The problem they have is nothing to do with Europe. The problem they have is very simple. They fought the 2010 election on a platform significantly to the left of Labour and then ended up in a Conservative Government with a platform significantly to the right of Labour ... there's not really a cure for that," he said.


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Lloyds Banking Group Confirms Float Of TSB

Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed a decision to sell around 25% of retail lender TSB, enticing investors with the offer of free shares.

The flotation is expected next month on the London Stock Exchange, following publication of a prospectus mid-month.

On Monday, Sky News City Editor Mark Kleinman revealed details of a plan to lure investors with an offer of free shares as part of the £1.5bn initial public offering (IPO).

Shareholdings of up to £2,000 must be held for 12 months after the float to be eligible for the 5% additional free shares.

The long-awaited sale is part of a mandated divestment programme following its taxpayer-backed bailout of more than £20bn following the global financial crisis.

Lloyds Banking Group CEO Antonio Horta Osorio poses outside the bank's headquarters on his first day back at work after taking a leave of absence due to exhaustion, in the City of London Lloyds CEO Antonio Horta-Osorio said TSB would offer more competition

TSB, which was relaunched as a standalone brand last autumn and operates 631 branches, has a growth strategy focusing on consumers and small business customers.

It currently employs 8,000 and is responsible for £22bn invested on behalf of 4.5 million customers.

It is marketing itself on a history dating back more than 200 years and intends to lure customers away from bigger rivals that operate risky - but profitable - investment banking arms.

TSB will be taken fully public by the end of 2015 as part of the European Commission mandate on state-aid to companies.

Lloyds still owns the Halifax and Bank of Scotland and the banking group remains 25% owned by the British taxpayer.

Lloyds chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio said: "The decision to proceed with an initial public offering of TSB is an important further step for the group as we act to meet our commitments to the European Commission.

"TSB has a national network of branches, a strong balance sheet and significant economic protection against legacy issues.

"It is already operating on the UK high street and is proving to be a strong and effective challenger, further enhancing competition in the UK banking sector."

It was originally planned to sell more than 630 TSB branches to the Co-operative Bank, until a £1.5bn capital black hole was discovered in the mutual's books.

The IMF managing director Christine Lagarde IMF boss Christine Lagarde said the global banking sector needs to do more

The floating bank's chief executive Paul Pester said: "Today is a significant milestone on our journey to create a major new competitive force in UK banking."

TSB - originally standing for Trustees Savings Bank - dates back to 1810 when Reverend Henry Duncan created a community-based local bank.

Meanwhile, International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde, speaking at a conference in London, said the global banking system is slowly adapting to modern realities, amid sector "push back".

She said: "We're moving forward with stronger capital lending and liquidity requirements. It should certainly make the system safer, sounder and hopefully more service-oriented.

"The bad new is that progress is still much too slow and the finish line is still too far off.

"Some of this arises for the complexity of the task at hand, yet we must acknowledge that it also stems from fierce industry 'push back' and from the fatigue that is bound to set in at this point in the race."


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Mortgage Approvals Decline For Third Month

High street banks have reduced the number of mortgage approvals for the third month in a row, despite their total value reaching a six-year high.

The British Bankers' Association (BBA) said £12.2bn in loans were activated in April.

The total was 52% higher than the same month last year and the strongest monthly figure since August 2008.

But the increased value of mortgages, combined with the reduced volume of loans gives a "mixed" picture, according to the BBA.

It said more than 42,170 home loan approvals, valued at £6.9bn, were approved - the lowest volume for eight months.

Mortgage approvals have continued to decline since 48,000 were recorded in January.

However, when seen against the April 2013 approvals, it remains 25% higher.

Property schemes such as Help to Buy were rolled out in the latter part of last year, boosting first-time buyer access to mortgages.

The BBA said borrowing for businesses also contracted by 1.9% in the year to April.

But that compared to a reduction in borrowing of 5.1% in the 12 months to April 2013.

BBA chief economist Richard Woolhouse said: "Our figures show the housing market is mixed.

"The value of mortgages taken out in April was the highest for six years.

"The amount of borrowing is, however, still well below the levels we were seeing before the financial crisis."

The easing mortgage approval rate comes after the Mortgage Market Review (MMR) was introduced last month, designed to better calculate applicants' ability to pay if loan rates rise in the future.

Surging home prices - 8% across the UK and 17% in London - have also pushed a belief that the Bank of England may take other measures to calm the market.

The BBA report also said that £8.1bn was put on credit card debt in April, 4.9% more than in the same month a year earlier.

It said: "Higher loan demand continues to reflect rising consumer confidence and an improving economy."


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Scotland World Cup Friendly: Match-Fixing Probe

Officers are investigating match-fixing claims over the forthcoming World Cup friendly between Nigeria and Scotland, Sky sources say.

The game is due to be played on Wednesday night at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground in London.

The National Crime Agency is now investigating what it thinks could be an attempt to fix the match.

Scotland v World Cup-bound Nigeria is part of a series of warm-up matches ahead of the tournament in Brazil next month.

There is no suggestion that the game at Craven Cottage will be scrapped.

Sky's Scotland correspondent James Matthews said the Nigeria team is the 'home' side and selected the Fulham ground as the venue.

He said: "The National Crime Agency (NCA) is investigating what it believes may be an attempt to fix the match.

"No Scotland players are involved or under any suspicion but the NCA has been liaising with the football authorities in Scotland and Nigeria."

Matthews added: "The Scottish Football Association has said it is liaising with the relevant authorities and is preparing for the game as normal.

"It is my understanding the gambling commission has also issued an alert - a warning - to bookmakers around the world to keep an eye on betting patterns ahead not only of the Nigeria/Scotland game but other friendlies on Wednesday evening."  

More follows...


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