Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 28 Maret 2015 | 14.44
Four schoolgirls banned last week from leaving the UK over fears they would travel to Syria are from the same London school as four other girls who have already fled to join Islamic State, it has been revealed.
A judge has decided that it can now be made public that all eight teenagers were pupils at Bethnal Green Academy in east London.
In February, Kadiza Sultana, 16, Shamima Begum, 15, and Amira Abase, 15, left their east London homes for Syria, two months after a fellow pupil is thought to have left to join IS there.
But police had also raised concerns about four other girls at the school.
Last week, Mr Justice Hayden made the girls - aged 15 and 16 - wards of the court, preventing them from leaving the country without a judge's permission.
He made the move after social services at Tower Hamlets Council made an application to the Family Division of the High Court in London.
Social workers told the judge the girls might flee to areas controlled by the Islamic State and counter terrorism specialists at the Metropolitan Police also gave evidence during the week-long hearing.
The judge changed his order banning identification of the girls after the press appealed that identifying the school would be in the public interest.
Bethnal Green Academy in east London
The Press Association news agency argued that parents in the area considering schools for their children had a right to know.
:: Earlier this month Mr Justice Hayden, who said that sometimes the law had to intervene to protect young people from themselves, barred a 16-year-old boy from travelling abroad by making him a ward of the court.
Video:IS Runaways - Policeman's Warning
The boy's two elder brothers had already been killed fighting for militants in Syria.
He also banned identification of this youngster but revealed that the local authority which had applied to have him made a ward of the court was Brighton and Hove City Council.
David Cameron is to launch his party's election campaign with a pledge to deliver a "truly seven day NHS" for England if he is returned to power on 7 May.
The Prime Minister will use the Conservative spring conference in Manchester to set out plans for patients to be able to access hospital services at weekends as well as during the week.
It comes the day after Labour leader Ed Miliband promised a "double lock" to safeguard the future of the NHS - £2.5bn of new investment and limits on further privatisation.
Mr Cameron: 'Too hard to access NHS out of hours'
Mr Cameron will say that under Tory plans, hospitals across England will offer consultant-level services seven days a week by the end of the next parliament in 2020.
The changes will start with emergency and urgent care together with supporting services, such as diagnostics.
Video:Battle For Number 10 Special
It follows the commitment to ensure patients can access GP surgeries seven days a week, between 8am and 8pm.
"For years it's been too hard to access the NHS out of hours. But illness doesn't respect working hours. Heart attacks, major accidents, babies - these things don't just come from nine to five," Mr Cameron will say.
"And the truth is that you are actually more likely to die if you turn up at the hospital at the weekend. Some of the resources are not up and running. The key decision-makers aren't always there.
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"With a future Conservative government, we would have a truly seven day NHS."
However, the proposals have been met with scepticism by the British Medical Association (BMA).
"The £2bn extra funding that has been pledged falls far short of what is needed to deliver existing services, let alone fund additional care," said BMA council chair Dr Mark Porter.
Video:NHS Shake-Up 'Disastrous'
"The NHS is recovering from one of the worst winter crises on record, during which some hospitals were forced to close their doors because they couldn't cope.
"With existing services stretched to breaking point… the NHS needs far more than just words to deliver extra care.
"Without a detailed, fully-costed plan, this is at best an empty pledge and at worst shameless political game playing with the NHS ahead of the election."
Written By Unknown on Jumat, 27 Maret 2015 | 14.43
A policeman has been arrested on suspicion of murdering his wife at their home in Northampton.
The 49-year-old, who is a serving officer with Northamptonshire Police, was held after police arrived at a house in Wootton Hall Park at around 1pm on Thursday.
He has been taken into custody and will be questioned by detectives from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit.
A post-mortem examination is to be carried out by a Home Office pathologist in Leicester.
Det Supt Kate Meynell said: "A full and proper investigation is taking place.
"Northamptonshire Police will not be making any further comment on this investigation at this stage."
The incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission as a matter of course.
Nearly a quarter of students in the UK have considered sex work as a way to fund their time at University.
A study carried out by academics at Swansea University has found that 5% of students have actually worked in the sex industry.
More than half of those said they did so in order to pay for basic living expenses.
In a lap dancing club in Liverpool one of the dancers who calls herself "Isobel" when at work told Sky News she began working as a stripper when she realised how much money she could earn.
She is on one of the most competitive courses at a top university and says the bar job she had previously meant working many more hours a week, which interfered with her studies.
"What I earn in a week is what I'd earn in a month in the bar job, so it just kind of made sense to me to work here rather than do that." she said.
"I think it's a no brainer for anyone really. Rather than doing all those hours I do less than half the amount of time for a lot more money - three times as much money. It's crazy."
Other students are prepared to go further, advertising themselves as escorts on adult-only websites.
One student who works as a prostitute agreed to speak to Sky News on the condition that we did not reveal her identity.
"I think it is still very much stigmatised and that can make life very difficult for student sex workers," she said.
"It isn't something for everybody, and that's totally fine, but it was the best choice of the choices that I had available to me."
"Obviously I think there should be a better funded education system - I think there should be grants for students.
"But at the minute while we don't have any of that support or money in place this is the best option."
The debate over the cost of going to university will continue ahead of the General Election, with Labour pledging to cut tuition fees by a third to £6,000 a year.
In the three years since fees were raised to £9,000 the students union at Manchester University has been contacted by more students who are working in the sex industry.
Women's Officer Jess Lishak told Sky News: "We've definitely seen an increase in the people we see in our advice centre that are turning to sex work.
"In terms of the reasons for that, there's a huge variety and I think it's too complex to break down to just fees, just austerity, just cuts. They all play a part".
The Student Sex Work Project has found that while 56% of students who engage in sex work said they do so to pay for basic living costs, 45% said it was to avoid debt and 39% said it was to reduce debt at the end of their course.
Dr Tracey Sagar, who jointly led the research, said: "We now have firm evidence that students are engaged in the sex industry across the UK.
"The majority of these students keep their occupations secret and this is because of social stigma and fears of being judged by family and friends.
"And, we have to keep in mind that not all students engaged in the industry are safe or feel safe.
"It is vital now that universities arm themselves with knowledge to better understand student sex work issues and that university services are able to support students where support is needed."
Written By Unknown on Kamis, 26 Maret 2015 | 14.43
It will cost more than £12bn and will take 13 years to fix all the potholes on roads in England and Wales, a report has claimed.
Despite more being filled in, the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) claims the cash spent on repairs in the last 12 months has been "wasted".
The group's annual survey also found an increase in the amount paid in compensation to motorists in England to more than £20m.
Local authority staffing costs, to process the claims, have increased to around £18m, the report said.
Alan Mackenzie, chairman of the AIA, said: "Essentially, the money spent on filling the 2.7 million potholes reported is wasted - it is inefficient and short term in its effectiveness.
Video:The Formation Of Potholes Explained
"So, while we understand that the Department for Transport is promoting permanent repairs, the point remains that money would be better spent preventing potholes forming in the first place.
"The £6bn of funding pledged between 2015 and 2021 is welcome, and hopefully will be confirmed by an incoming government.
"But the truth is that although it sounds like a big investment, it will only be enough for local authorities to tread water and it will do nothing to tackle the backlog or prevent continuing deterioration."
Peter Box, transport spokesman at the Local Government Association, said: "Councils need billions, not millions, to bring our roads up to scratch.
Video:Potholes Bringing UK To A Halt
"Every mile of motorways and trunk roads will receive £1.4m funding over the next six years compared with £31,000 per mile for local roads.
"This makes little sense given the Government's own traffic projections predict an increase in local traffic of more than 40% by 2040."
A Department for Transport spokesman said: "Well maintained local roads are vital for our transport network and it is for local councils to maintain them properly."
The manufacturer of the iconic London taxi is to build a new £250m factory in Coventry, creating 1,000 jobs.
The news was announced hours after Jaguar Land Rover said it had committed £600m to support its own operations in the West Midlands.
The investment in the London Taxi Company, by its Chinese owner Geely, is being supported by the Government's Regional Growth Fund.
Geely said the new state-of the-art research, development and assembly facility would prepare the ground for the introduction of the next generation electric and ultra-low emission London Black Cab.
It would have the capacity to assemble up to 36,000 vehicles a year - a ten-fold increase on the capabilities at its existing Coventry plant which has produced more than 130,000 cabs since 1948.
The company, which was formed following the demise of Manganeze Bronze. said it was to develop the next generation black cab to comply with new emission regulations being introduced by the City's mayor from 2018.
Boris Johnson said: "The production of zero emission-capable vehicles, incorporating the latest state of the art technology, is essential as we strive to create the greenest taxi fleet in the world for London.
"I warmly welcome Geely's commitment to building this impressive new factory in Coventry, highlighting the UK's position as a world leader in the development and manufacturing of ultra low emission technologies.
"The vehicles this facility produces will help transform London's taxi fleet, boost jobs and growth in London and the West Midlands, and secure the long-term future of the taxi industry, whilst ensuring everyone who lives, work in or visits our city has the cleanest possible air to breathe."
Jaguar Land Rover said its investment would support product creation and advanced vehicle manufacturing.
The largest single investment was made at its Castle Bromwich plant to support the introduction of the new Jaguar XF.
Jaguar Land Rover chief executive Dr Ralf Speth said: "Jaguar Land Rover continues to demonstrate its unwavering support to the British automotive industry through sustained investments in advanced research, technology and innovation.
"This investment, made here in the heartland of our UK business operations, signals the confidence we have in this region to support the creation, engineering and manufacturing of ultra-low emission, premium British products, today and in the future."
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Video:Mark Duggan: Armed Officers Cleared
Police involved in the fatal shooting of a suspected gang member whose death sparked the worst riots in modern English history have been cleared of any wrongdoing.
The armed officers were cleared by the police watchdog - the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) - following a three-and-a-half year investigation.
But the IPCC has called for urgent improvements in the accountability of police operations.
It found a lack of audio or video material made it impossible to know with certainty exactly what happened when Mark Duggan died in Tottenham, north London, in August 2011.
All radio communications taking place during undercover firearms operations should be recorded, the IPCC recommended.
1/9
Gallery: In Pictures: Duggan Vigil
Around 200 people gathered outside Tottenham Police Station, including Mark Duggan's mother Pam (centre)
Carole Duggan, Mark's aunt, spoke at the vigil
]]>
She said "we have to remember Mark is not the first person to die at the hands of the police"
]]>
The crowds gathered to protest against deaths in police custody
]]>
The occasion was an emotional one for Mark's mother
]]>
In addition, covert armed response vehicles should be fitted with in car data recording systems, the watchdog said.
The report was dismissed as "plainly wrong" by representatives from the Duggan family, who immediately called for a supplementary report to address a series of concerns.
Those concerns included evidence relating to the whereabouts of a weapon found in the wake of the shooting, the family said.
Violence and looting broke out across London, Birmingham, Manchester and other cities after 29-year-old Mr Duggan was shot.
The shooting happened after Metropolitan Police firearms officers brought the mini-cab in which he was travelling to a halt.
IPCC deputy chair Rachel Cerfontyne said: "This death has had huge ramifications for the Tottenham community and beyond.
"This has meant all of those directly involved, the family and police officers have had to endure a huge amount of public scrutiny.
"If implemented, my recommendations would not only shorten the investigative process, they would provide investigators with immediate, accurate and incontrovertible evidence, which would be of benefit to all."
Last year, an inquest jury found Mr Duggan's death at the hands of the armed officer was lawful, sparking outrage among his family.
1/22
Gallery: Tottenham Explodes - August 2011
Tottenham erupted in major violence on Saturday night after a peaceful protest against the death of a 29-year-old man.
Two police patrol cars, a building and a double-decker bus were torched as rioters clashed with officers in front of Tottenham Police Station.
]]>
Mr Duggan, believed to be a member of the Tottenham Man Dem gang, was travelling in a minicab which was subject to a "hard stop".
A "hard stop" refers to when a number of police vehicles surround a suspect vehicle, supported by specialist firearms officers.
The taxi was brought to a halt under a Metropolitan Police intelligence led operation code-named Dibri.
The operation started in January 2009 in response to rising tensions between organised criminal networks in north London.
In the days before his death, Scotland Yard had received intelligence that suggested Mr Duggan was seeking to get hold of a gun.
Officers believed he planned to pick up a gun from another man, Kevin Hutchinson-Foster, and then move on to Broadwater Farm, also in Tottenham.
Hutchinson-Foster has since been found guilty of supplying a gun to Mr Duggan.
Intelligence received justified the use of an armed surveillance operation against Mr Duggan, the IPCC found.
It was also "reasonable" for the Tactical Firearms Commander to stop the minicab to recover the firearm and detain Mr Duggan, the IPCC found.
1/11
Gallery: Evidence At Mark Duggan Inquest
The scene of the shooting of Mark Duggan in photographs released as evidence at the inquest into his death.
A diagram explains what can be seen in the first image.
]]>
The watchdog also found no evidence to undermine V53's claim that he saw a firearm in Mr Duggan's right hand.
Nor was there evidence to undermine V53's claim that he saw Mr Duggan's right arm beginning to move, leading him to fear for his life or that of his colleagues.
But the investigators found there was insufficient evidence to conclude that the firearms officers did - or did not - shout "armed police".
And it was not possible to determine the exact positions of V53 and Mr Duggan.
Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Patricia Gallan said: "It may be almost four years since the death of Mark Duggan but I do not underestimate the impact his death still has on his family, the community and the officers involved."
She went on: "Last year the jury at the inquest found that our officers acted lawfully when they confronted an armed criminal who they believed posed a threat to them and to the public.
"And now the IPCC, having examined all of the evidence, have produced a report which says that the operation was appropriate in the circumstances and the IPCC found no wrongdoing or misconduct for any armed officer involved in the police operation."
Ms Gallan added: "There is of course an opportunity for us to improve and the recommendations will now be carefully reviewed by both ourselves and the Association of Chief Police Officers."
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Armed Officers Cleared Over Mark Duggan Death
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Video:Mark Duggan: Armed Officers Cleared
Police involved in the fatal shooting of a suspected gang member whose death sparked the worst riots in modern English history have been cleared of any wrongdoing.
The armed officers were cleared by the police watchdog - the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) - following a three-and-a-half year investigation.
But the IPCC has called for urgent improvements in the accountability of police operations.
It found a lack of audio or video material made it impossible to know with certainty exactly what happened when Mark Duggan died in Tottenham, north London, in August 2011.
All radio communications taking place during undercover firearms operations should be recorded, the IPCC recommended.
1/9
Gallery: In Pictures: Duggan Vigil
Around 200 people gathered outside Tottenham Police Station, including Mark Duggan's mother Pam (centre)
Carole Duggan, Mark's aunt, spoke at the vigil
]]>
She said "we have to remember Mark is not the first person to die at the hands of the police"
]]>
The crowds gathered to protest against deaths in police custody
]]>
The occasion was an emotional one for Mark's mother
]]>
In addition, covert armed response vehicles should be fitted with in car data recording systems, the watchdog said.
The report was dismissed as "plainly wrong" by representatives from the Duggan family, who immediately called for a supplementary report to address a series of concerns.
Those concerns included evidence relating to the whereabouts of a weapon found in the wake of the shooting, the family said.
Violence and looting broke out across London, Birmingham, Manchester and other cities after 29-year-old Mr Duggan was shot.
The shooting happened after Metropolitan Police firearms officers brought the mini-cab in which he was travelling to a halt.
IPCC deputy chair Rachel Cerfontyne said: "This death has had huge ramifications for the Tottenham community and beyond.
"This has meant all of those directly involved, the family and police officers have had to endure a huge amount of public scrutiny.
"If implemented, my recommendations would not only shorten the investigative process, they would provide investigators with immediate, accurate and incontrovertible evidence, which would be of benefit to all."
Last year, an inquest jury found Mr Duggan's death at the hands of the armed officer was lawful, sparking outrage among his family.
1/22
Gallery: Tottenham Explodes - August 2011
Tottenham erupted in major violence on Saturday night after a peaceful protest against the death of a 29-year-old man.
Two police patrol cars, a building and a double-decker bus were torched as rioters clashed with officers in front of Tottenham Police Station.
]]>
Mr Duggan, believed to be a member of the Tottenham Man Dem gang, was travelling in a minicab which was subject to a "hard stop".
A "hard stop" refers to when a number of police vehicles surround a suspect vehicle, supported by specialist firearms officers.
The taxi was brought to a halt under a Metropolitan Police intelligence led operation code-named Dibri.
The operation started in January 2009 in response to rising tensions between organised criminal networks in north London.
In the days before his death, Scotland Yard had received intelligence that suggested Mr Duggan was seeking to get hold of a gun.
Officers believed he planned to pick up a gun from another man, Kevin Hutchinson-Foster, and then move on to Broadwater Farm, also in Tottenham.
Hutchinson-Foster has since been found guilty of supplying a gun to Mr Duggan.
Intelligence received justified the use of an armed surveillance operation against Mr Duggan, the IPCC found.
It was also "reasonable" for the Tactical Firearms Commander to stop the minicab to recover the firearm and detain Mr Duggan, the IPCC found.
1/11
Gallery: Evidence At Mark Duggan Inquest
The scene of the shooting of Mark Duggan in photographs released as evidence at the inquest into his death.
A diagram explains what can be seen in the first image.
]]>
The watchdog also found no evidence to undermine V53's claim that he saw a firearm in Mr Duggan's right hand.
Nor was there evidence to undermine V53's claim that he saw Mr Duggan's right arm beginning to move, leading him to fear for his life or that of his colleagues.
But the investigators found there was insufficient evidence to conclude that the firearms officers did - or did not - shout "armed police".
And it was not possible to determine the exact positions of V53 and Mr Duggan.
Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Patricia Gallan said: "It may be almost four years since the death of Mark Duggan but I do not underestimate the impact his death still has on his family, the community and the officers involved."
She went on: "Last year the jury at the inquest found that our officers acted lawfully when they confronted an armed criminal who they believed posed a threat to them and to the public.
"And now the IPCC, having examined all of the evidence, have produced a report which says that the operation was appropriate in the circumstances and the IPCC found no wrongdoing or misconduct for any armed officer involved in the police operation."
Ms Gallan added: "There is of course an opportunity for us to improve and the recommendations will now be carefully reviewed by both ourselves and the Association of Chief Police Officers."
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A public inquiry into why thousands of people were infected by contaminated blood donations has found warnings were ignored by the NHS, Sky News has learned.
The report, by Lord Penrose, also criticises a medical team in Edinburgh for failing to inform patients they were HIV positive until several years after diagnosis.
The judge is publishing his findings today, following a public inquiry into the scandal.
It was ordered by the Scottish Government and has looked at around 480 Scottish cases.
Robert Mackie is angry he was not told about his HIV diagnosis sooner
There has been no equivalent inquiry south of the border, although campaigners hope the Scottish process will help the fight for compensation of around 7,000 victims across the UK.
Sky News understands that following publication of the Penrose inquiry report, the Scottish Government will issue an apology to those affected.
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Gallery: Hepatitis C: The Facts
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The victims are mostly haemophiliacs who were infected by HIV and hepatitis C after being given contaminated blood or blood products in the 1970s and 80s.
Haemophiliacs need an agent to help clot their blood, but 30 years ago, many were given clotting agents from infected blood.
Donations had come made from a variety of risk groups, including prisoners in American jails who had given blood for money which was was then sold on to the NHS in Britain.
Lord Penrose has established that a series of warnings were ignored by the NHS.
After Britain's first case of AIDS in Cardiff in the early 80s, a senior public official called for the Department of Health to ban US imports of the clotting agent, Factor 8, because of the risk of infection.
Haemophilia campaign groups believe that if the warnings had been heeded, a "disaster" could have been averted.
Bill Wright, Chair of Haemophilia Scotland, told Sky News: "For far too many people, there are too many unanswered questions with this whole disaster. One of the things that I think people generally feel that they want to see is the truth, whatever that is."
"Whether that is achievable remains to be seen, frankly, because far too many people have died, far too many medical records have gone missing, there are one or two key official documents that have gone missing, and some of the key expert witnesses are no longer with us either."
Lord Penrose is critical of an NHS haemophilia unit in Edinburgh for not telling patients they were infected with HIV.
One of them, Robert Mackie, became HIV positive in 1984 but wasn't informed by medical staff until 1987.
Fortunately, he did not pass the virus on to his wife, family or anyone else.
Mr Mackie told Sky News: "It's unacceptable. I could have infected my wife, I could have infected family, I could have infected friends.
"Fortunately for the world community, I was not promiscuous. The risks were horrendous."
Written By Unknown on Selasa, 24 Maret 2015 | 14.43
Survival rates for cancer in the UK are trailing behind other European countries by 10 years, a charity has warned.
Macmillan Cancer Support analysed the most recent results from global research into cancer survival and found many countries were doing better in the 1990s than the UK has managed to date.
The charity's chief executive has urged political leaders to commit to tackling the "shameful" survival rates ahead of the general election.
"This analysis exposes the harsh reality that because UK cancer survival rates are lagging so far behind the rest of Europe, people are dying needlessly," Lynda Thomas said.
"What we can see here is that better cancer survival rates are not unachievable.
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"If countries like Sweden, France, Finland and Austria can achieve these rates, then the UK can and should bridge the gap."
While 14% of patients in Austria diagnosed with lung cancer between 1995 and 1999 survived, just 10% of patients diagnosed between 2005 and 2009 in the UK have done so.
Between 2005 and 2009 19% of people with stomach cancer survived in the UK - the figure was 31% for those diagnosed in Italy between 1995 and 1999 and 30% in Austria.
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Just over half (54%) of people diagnosed with colon cancer in the UK between 2005 and 2009 survived, but 59% for those diagnosed in Finland between 1995 and 1999 survived.
While 81% of people diagnosed with the most common type of the disease - breast cancer - between 2005 and 2009 in the UK survived, 84% did in Sweden and France during the earlier period, and 83% did in Italy.
National clinical director for cancer at NHS England Sean Duffy said: "We are diagnosing and treating more people than ever before in this country and as a result the NHS is helping more people than ever survive cancer.
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"We have come on leaps and bounds since this 2009 data highlighted by Macmillan, but we have an ambition to save even more lives and it's time to take a fresh look at how we can do better."
Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson could find out within hours whether he is to be sacked from the hit show, a senior BBC executive has said.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, Radio 1 controller Ben Cooper said he thought a decision was "about 24 hours away".
Clarkson has been in limbo for two weeks since the BBC suspended him over his now infamous "fracas" with producer Oisin Tymon.
Both men have given evidence to an internal investigation at the corporation, where Ken McQuarrie has been tasked with getting to the bottom of what really happened at a hotel in the Yorkshire Dales.
The investigation into Clarkson's conduct is being handed over to the director-general Tony Hall, and a decision could follow today.
Video:Sacked Gear?
Mr Cooper said the incident had to be dealt with in "a very serious way".
He said: "I think if my son or daughter went to a place of work where they were shouted at, abused and someone threw a punch at them I would want there to be an inquiry and for that to be dealt with in a very serious way and that's what the BBC is currently doing."
Clarkson, along with his co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond, had been due to take part in four live Top Gear shows in Norway this week, but they were postponed on Sunday.
On the same day, Clarkson wrote about his "turbulent" week in a newspaper column and played down an expletive-packed rant at a charity event, in which he appeared to criticise his BBC bosses.
Video:Family: We Saw Clarkson's Abuse
The 54-year-old seemed to suggest he may be sacked from Top Gear and hit out at the corporation's executives in the speech, which was captured on video.
But he wrote in the Sunday Times: "It was all meant in jest and anyway it worked.
"By being brief, controversial and a bit sweary I woke the room up and the auction prize I was offering - one last lap of the Top Gear test track - raised £100,000."
The presenter of the BBC's most lucrative show also thanked supporters of a petition to reinstate him, which was signed by more than a million people and delivered to New Broadcasting House in a tank last Friday.
Video:Clarkson 'Off To The Job Centre'
Meanwhile, with Top Gear off air during the internal investigation, May has been tweeting about getting to grips with life without work.
He wrote at the weekend: "Woodwork tasks today. Being jobless allows you to revisit old interests, learn new things, and listen to the radio more. Sold the telly."
Written By Unknown on Senin, 23 Maret 2015 | 14.43
Mosquitoes carrying potentially deadly diseases, such as dengue fever and West Nile virus, could become widespread across the UK in the next few decades, experts have said.
Writing in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, scientists claim warmer temperatures and more rainfall - both outcomes of climate change - could provide ideal conditions in the UK for the unwelcome visitors, particularly southern England.
The UK climate is already said to be suitable for mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus, an infection that causes a flu-like illness which on rare occasions can prove fatal.
No human cases have come to light so far, but recently a species of Culex mosquito known to be the main carrier of West Nile Virus in Europe was discovered in Kent.
A bigger threat is the Asian tiger mosquito which spreads dengue fever and chikungunya. Both cause serious illnesses, which especially in the case of dengue fever can be fatal.
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Climate change models show that just a 2C rise in temperature could extend the mosquito's activity season by one month and geographical spread by up to 30% by 2030, the scientists said.
Professor Steve Leach, from the emergency responses department at Public Health England, said: "We are not suggesting that climate change is the only or the main factor driving the increase in vector-borne diseases in the UK and Europe, but that it is one of many factors including socio-economic development, urbanisation, widespread land-use change, migration, and globalisation that should be considered.
"Lessons from the outbreaks of West Nile virus in North America and chikungunya in the Caribbean emphasise the need to assess future vector-borne disease risks and prepare contingencies for future outbreaks."
In the past decade insect-borne infections have spread into new territories across Europe. Examples include malaria in Greece, West Nile Virus in eastern Europe, and chikungunya in Italy and France.
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The climate change simulations predict suitable temperatures for one month per year of chikungunya virus transmission in London by 2041, and up to three months in southeast England by 2071.
Co-author Dr Jolyon Medlock, also from Public Health England, said: "Given the on-going spread of invasive mosquitoes across Europe, with accompanying outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya virus, Public Health England has been conducting surveillance at seaports, airports, and some motorway service stations.
"Although no non-native invasive mosquitoes have been detected in the UK so far, a better system to monitor imported used tyres, in which disease-carrying mosquitoes lay their eggs, needs planning."
Despite the risk from malaria being considered low, some climate models predicted the possibility of localised infections in the UK as early as 2030.
Five-year-old Ashya King's life has been saved by specialist proton beam therapy, not available for him on the NHS, his parents have said.
Naghmeh and Brett King, who sparked an international manhunt last summer by removing their son from a UK hospital without medical consent for brain tumour treatment abroad, said Ashya was now cancer-free.
Mrs King described the news as "a miracle".
"If we had left Ashya with the NHS in Britain, he would not be with us today. He was too weak and would not have survived," she told the Sun newspaper.
Ashya was finally allowed to undergo treatment at the Proton Therapy Centre (PTC) in Prague for brain cancer after a long legal battle fought by his parents.
Video:Proton Cancer Treatment Explained
Mr King said his son's condition now justifies their actions in taking him from Southampton General Hospital last August, to Spain where they have a holiday home.
He said: "We have saved his life", adding that they would do the same thing again if they felt they had to.
The Kings were arrested in Spain and spent several nights in prison away from their son, before being released .
Video:Inside The Proton Beam Centre
A High Court judge approved the move to take Ashya to Prague for proton therapy, which the PTC said is more effective than the radiotherapy Ashya was being offered on the NHS.
It limits the collateral damage of radiation to other vital organs, such as the heart and liver in Ashya's case. This would lead to less severe long-term side-effects including heart and breathing problems.
The therapy was not available for him on the NHS, although the health service later agreed to fund Ashya's treatment.
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The family, who have previously spoken of their apprehension over returning to the UK for fear social services would get involved, are staying in Marbella where Ashya will continue his recovery.
The Sun quoted a report from the PTC which stated that the oncology department "could speculate that Proton Therapy received could be sufficient to sterilise sites of possible future relapses of the tumour and chemotherapy could deteriorate the quality of life of Ashya".
Written By Unknown on Minggu, 22 Maret 2015 | 14.43
By Poppy Trowbridge, Consumer Affairs Correspondent
Political parties are being urged to commit to a ban on the sale of so-called legal highs in their manifestos, or risk putting thousands of young people at risk ahead of the summer music festival season.
The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) says MPs have been "too slow" in recognising the dangers and legislating to protect consumers from such products, despite the public's desire for a ban.
According to new research seen by Sky News, three-quarters of the public want the sale of legal highs on the high street to be banned.
Shirley Cramer, chief executive of the RSPH, said politicians have not made the issue a big enough priority and as a result have "put a lot of people at risk".
MPs have asked festivals to put their own legal high bans in operation
She told Sky News: "Particularly at this time of the year, with the election fast approaching, a ban on legal highs is not included in the manifestos and we believe that would really be something the public would welcome."
The RSPH says consumer protection regulations should be enforced to remove legal products which are marketed in a misleading way.
Furthermore, it says the marketing of products with brand names such as White Stuff, Go-Caine and Mary Jane normalises drug taking.
Ms Cramer added: "Disclaimers that these products are not for human consumption are merely a fig leaf and it is highly irresponsible for them to be marketed in a 'nudge-nudge, wink-wink' manner."
Around three million people attend summer music festivals each year, according to research by Festival Insights, and 23% of festival-goers have taken drugs at an event.
The RSPH believe the number of those who could be tempted to try legal highs is even greater.
There were 101 new substances recorded in 2014, and at least 60 deaths related to legal highs.
Paul Reed, general manager of The Association of Independent Festivals, told Sky News: "The problem is many people equate 'legal' with 'safe'.
"We'd welcome legal changes that would make these substances less available."
Part of the difficulty in legislating against specific legal high substances is that the formulas are often slightly tweaked and then they are put back on the market.
While the Government is developing proposals for a general ban on the sale of legal highs, no specific plan has been put in place. Yet MPs have written to festivals asking them to put their own bans in operation.
Families of soldiers killed fighting for the British military have said the sacrifice of their loved ones should be acknowledged in the General Election.
A letter sent to the leaders of the main political parties by some 60 families said they had been "swept under the carpet" and asked for five pledges in their election manifestos.
Among their requests is a commitment to hold an Afghan inquiry and to give the next Defence Minister responsibility for bereaved families as part of their portfolio.
Julie Philips' lost her husband Michael in Sierra Leone
The letter also demands a review of the Armed Forces Covenant and military wills.
"We believe this is essential in demonstrating your commitment to those who have been prepared to lay down their lives for the greater good of our country," the letter reads.
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"The families left behind and to future generations prepared to make those same selfless sacrifices as their commitment to our country and its people."
Lucy Aldridge's son William was killed in Afghanistan in 2009. Rifleman Aldridge was the youngest British soldier to die in the conflict. She is one of the signatories.
"There is nobody there. There is no recognition that there is a lack of support and has been for decades. Successive governments have forgotten about us," she said.
"Because deaths in the military are so often sudden and violent, bereaved families can suffer from a very acute form of depression after the loss of their loved ones. We feel there is very little understanding of that from the authorities we turn to for help."
The group wants politicians to recognise that their situation is unique.
Julie Philips' husband Michael was the only British soldier killed in Sierra Leone.
She said: "We do need the support. It's not just about financial support. It's about having somebody there who can oversee and say right, these forces families have all been through the same thing.
"It doesn't matter if it is Iraq, Afghan, an accident, or suicide. If there was support there, then more families could come together."
Families of dead soldiers are often subject to intense media attention at the time. They have to watch the coffin return in a public repatriation which is often broadcast on television, and must attend an inquest into their death often months if not years after the event.
Many of them have created an informal forum on Facebook to share advice and support. There is no official Government or Military equivalent.
Unable to cope with her loss, Ms Aldridge attempted suicide in 2013.
"It isn't just our loved ones who serve, we serve too," she said.
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"We're the ones pacing the floor when they're deployed. We're the ones concerned about getting that knock on the door, and when it does happen you hope there will be some long-term support to help you, and there just isn't.
"It feels like once a conflict is over and the publicity dies down, our loved ones are remembered on memorials but we're forgotten about and our concerns are swept under the carpet.
"We need to learn from past conflicts. I'm finding more families are coming up with the same issues and there just isn't anyone to represent us who can look at those issues and actually deal with them."
David Cameron has written to the families and promised the Conservatives will consider the suggestions for their forthcoming manifesto.
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Ed Miliband has told Sky News that he will write to the families shortly.
"The whole country honours the memories of members of the Armed Forces who pay the ultimate sacrifice in defending us," he said.
"We must also honour bereaved families who must live with the grief of having lost a son or daughter, father or mother, husband or wife.
"We are very grateful for the proposals put forward by Bereaved Military Families Support UK. We will examine them in detail and respond to the specific suggestions."
