The latest stories from the UK section of the BBC News web site.
VIDEO: Are councils ready for snow?
3 Feb 2012 at 2:19pm
Temperatures in parts of the UK plunged to -11C (12F) on Thursday night, and forecasters are warning of a bitterly cold spell and snow showers over the weekend. But are councils prepared?
VIDEO: Legionella Britons die in Spain
3 Feb 2012 at 7:17pm
Three British men have died and three more people are in hospital after contracting Legionnaires' disease while on holiday in Spain.
VIDEO: Heavy snowfall hits the UK
4 Feb 2012 at 7:30pm
Heavy snow is falling across large parts of the UK, causing disruption on roads, and prompting warnings of worse to come.
AUDIO: Dog's death ends cat owner battle
3 Feb 2012 at 5:44pm
The legal battle over the ownership of a cat in Stornoway has come to an end after the death of a key witness - a dog.
VIDEO: Hackers breach FBI-UK police call
3 Feb 2012 at 10:57pm
The FBI and the Metropolitan police have launched a criminal investigation after computer hackers intercepted a conference call.
Latest news and features from guardian.co.uk, the world's leading liberal voice
Anonymous hacks into FBI-Scotland Yard call
by Sandra Laville
3 Feb 2012 at 4:54pm
Investigators can be heard discussing joint inquiry into cybercrime in 15-minute call released on the internet
Hackers from the group Anonymous have broadcast a private conference call between the FBI and Scotland Yard exposing details of an international cybercrime investigation, the FBI has confirmed.
The FBI and Scotland Yard admitted that the security of the call had been breached.
Investigators can be heard discussing their joint inquiry into a cybercrime investigation going through the British courts, and linked to investigations in New York, Baltimore, Los Angeles and Ireland.
It is understood the breach occurred at the US end of the call. As the news broke, Anonymous began taunting the FBI, asking if it was curious about how the group could keep reading the bureau's internal communications.
Investigators can be heard on the broadcast talking about named individuals who have been charged in the UK with hacking into the website of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca).
In one lengthy exchange, the British contingent can be heard discussing a 15-year-old hacker as a "wannabe" and a "pain in the bum". The 15-minute call has been broadcast on the internet, but the names of some of the individuals being sought have been bleeped out by the hackers.
Scotland Yard said: "We are aware of the video which relates to an FBI conference call involving a PCeU [member of the e-crime unit] representative. The matter is being investigated by the FBI.
"At this stage no operational risks to the MPS have been identified; however, we continue to carry out a full assessment. We are not prepared to discuss [it] further."
The conference call was one that appears to be held weekly between officers from the Metropolitan police's e-crime unit and the FBI in New York and Los Angeles.
The law enforcement agencies are working together on a cybercrime investigation involving teenagers and young people from the UK, Ireland, Germany and the US, it is understood.
Six people are going through the British courts charged in connection with hacking into computers belonging to Soca. They include Ryan Cleary, a British teenager who is charged with five offences of hacking websites. Cleary, 19, from Wickford, Essex, was arrested in June last year. His arrest was linked to a series of cyber-attacks by a group called LulzSec.
Cleary was charged over cyber-attacks against British-based targets. He is due to appear at Southwark crown court with his co-accused, Jake Davis, on 11 May. Four other individuals, are due to appear at the same court in March as part of the same investigation. Cleary has been charged with three attacks – on the London-based International Federation of the Phonographic Industry in November 2010, the British Phonographic Industry in October 2010, and on Soca.
The method he is alleged to have used is a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack against all three websites. He was also charged with constructing a botnet, a network of infected computers that can be used remotely to direct attacks.
On the intercepted call, the British police officers joke with their FBI counterparts early in the conversation while they wait for others to join, and are heard making fun of Sheffield - where the Acpo cybercrime conference is being held next week. "It's a khazi - not exactly a jewel in England's crown," says the British detective. The call, which took place nearly a fortnight ago – it is understood – includes a conversation about the appearance of Cleary and Davis at Southwark crown court last Friday.
The FBI official expresses his gratitude to the British officers for "being flexible" and co-ordinating with them. "New York appreciates it," the FBI operative says.
In response, the British detective says: "We have cocked things up in the past."
The British detective then gives the FBI details of a 15-year-old who was arrested in the UK before Christmas. He calls the 15-year-old a "wannabe" and is connected with two other teenagers who are known as CSL sec "Cant Stop Laughing Security".
"He is just a pain in the bum," the officer says. The call ends with all parties agreeing to talk again the following Monday.
The events leading to the arrest of Cleary involved an investigation by British police and the FBI. The bureau's involvement, plus the nature of the targets, raised the prospect of Washington seeking the teenager's extradition to the US.
The conference call reveals that two other individuals are to be arrested in the future. It makes clear that the investigation is complex, stretching across international boundaries and focusing on teenage hackers in many different cases.
Karen Todner, a lawyer for Cleary, said the recording could be "incredibly sensitive" and warned such data breaches had the potential to derail the police's work. If they haven't secured their email it could potentially prejudice the investigation," she told Associated Press.Anonymous is a collection of internet enthusiasts, pranksters and activists whose targets have included the Church of Scientology, the music industry, and financial companies such as Visa and MasterCard.
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Briton lost from cruise liner off Mexico
3 Feb 2012 at 11:38pm
US and Mexican coastguards search for 30-year-old seen falling from deck of world's largest cruise ship
A British passenger on the world's biggest cruise ship has apparently gone overboard in waters near Mexico.
The 30-year-old man was seen falling over the railings by another passenger on the Allure of the Seas, the Royal Caribbean International cruise firm said. He could also be seen falling over in CCTV footage.
The man went overboard as the ship was sailing to Cozumel, Mexico, and the Mexican navy and coastguard are assisting in the search.The company added: "The ship made multiple public announcements and began a complete search of the ship, in efforts to locate the guest.
"When the guest did not respond and was not found on board, the captain alerted the local authorities.
"The location of the ship at the time the guest went overboard was marked on the ship's GPS and the US and Mexican coastguard were alerted.
"Our care team is providing support to the guest's family and our thoughts and prayers are with them," the statement said.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We are aware of the reports and are looking into them."
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Severe weather alert issued
by Damien Pearse
4 Feb 2012 at 2:31pm
• Snowfall of up to 15cm and temperatures down to -9C
• Met Office issues amber weather warning
• Heathrow cancels a third of Sunday flights
Heavy snowfall is expected across much of Britain, prompting Heathrow to cancel around a third of Sunday's flights.
An amber weather warning – the second-highest level – was issued by the Met Office, with snowfalls of up to 15cm expected, along with daytime temperatures as low as -9C.
Heathrow announced a reduced flight schedule to "minimise the disruption to passengers" caused by ice, snow and freezing fog but said it anticipated more than 70% of passengers would still be able to travel as airlines would transfer them between flights. The revised timetable was due to appear on the airport's website at around 6pm and passengers were advised to contact their airline for more information.
Heathrow's chief operating officer, Normand Boivin, said: "This decision ensures that the greatest number of passengers can fly with the minimum amount of disruption."
Latest forecasts suggest snow will fall at Heathrow from 5pm on Saturday until 6am on Sunday, with the heaviest dump between 9pm and 3am.
Gatwick said it was expecting the most heavy snowfall at around midnight when there were just a handful of flights.
A spokeswoman said there were no plans, as yet, to cancel flights on Sunday but the weather would be closely monitored.
Met Office forecaster Steve Randall said average snowfall would be 4-8cm (1.5-3.5in), including in London, but some easterly parts and high areas could expect 15cm. "There is a band of rain moving eastwards and this will turn to snow and sleet," he said.
The rain, sleet and snow will be replaced by dry and frosty weather overnight with black ice expected to be an additional hazard in many areas. The north and west of England, together with Wales and western Scotland could expect rain instead of snow, and milder temperatures.
The amber weather alert applies to Yorkshire and Humber, the west Midlands, east Midlands, east and south-west England, as well as London and south-east England, and north-west England. A yellow alert, which warns people to "be aware", was in place for parts of Scotland, Wales and north-west England.
The deep freeze has seen daytime temperatures plummet four or five degrees lower than average for February – traditionally the coldest month of the year.
Overnight, temperatures fell to -12C in Benson, Oxfordshire.
The Department for Transport's salt stocks across Britain stood at more than 2.4m tonnes – a million more than last year.
The AA said it had been called out to more than 4,300 breakdowns so far this morning – around 1,500 an hour – and it expected this figure to reach up to 16,000 by the end of the day. This is almost double the 8,500 of a usual Saturday.
A spokesman said most breakdowns occurred because of flat batteries, which produce less power in low temperatures.
The Highways Agency extended its own amber alert until 9am tomorrow, meaning there was a "high probability" of severe snow affecting the road network and a risk of adverse driving conditions.
A Local Government Association spokesman said council staff and volunteers would be checking to see whether vulnerable people were being cared for, and people were being encouraged to call in on elderly neighbours.
"Motorists are being advised to check the latest weather and gritting updates on council websites and 'gritter Twitter' feeds, as well as refresh themselves on winter driving guidance and what to stock in their car," he said.
British Gas said it had received more than 200,000 calls in the last five days, compared with 120,000-140,000 during a normal winter week.
A string of sporting events have fallen victim to the icy conditions, with Portsmouth's home match against Hull City becoming the first Championship fixture cancelled due to a frozen pitch. Several matches in the lower leagues had already been called off.
Racing was heavily hit, with meetings at Ffos Las, Sandown and Wetherby cancelled. Sunday's meeting at Kempton will be subject to an inspection because of the threat of overnight snow.
But swimmers were not deterred by ice on the Serpentine in London's Hyde Park and gritted their teeth as they plunged into its chilly waters.
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Lord Ashcroft's Caribbean bank asked to hand over documents
by Jamie Doward
4 Feb 2012 at 8:30pm
Court gives insolvency practitioner tracing assets of collapsed company power to demand information from Tory peer's bank
The Caribbean bank of Tory peer Lord Ashcroft faces demands to hand over documents relating to the collapse of a company whose subsidiary is accused of benefiting from a culture of corruption.
An insolvency practitioner appointed by the British Virgin Islands courts to trace the assets of Oxford Ventures Limited has been granted powers to request information from the British Caribbean Bank (BCB), an Ashcroft business based in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI).
Oxford Ventures, which collapsed in 2010, is the ultimate parent company of Johnston International, a construction and engineering firm that went bust in the same year with debts of $30m and is now under scrutiny in the TCI and the UK. Oxford's main creditor was BCB.
Last week, in a libel action brought by Ashcroft against the Independent, the paper's lawyers claimed the Tory peer was linked to Johnston which, they alleged, had benefited from a property boom in the TCI "knowing this boom was being created through systematic corruption".
Ashcroft insists he has had no "economic beneficial or legal interest" in Johnston since he sold it in 1999.
Documents obtained by the BBC's Panorama programme, however, suggest its chief executive, Allan Forrest, who was also a director of Oxford Ventures, reported to Ashcroft and also believed the peer owned Oxford.
Chris Johnson of CJA Associates, the insolvency practitioner charged with unpicking Oxford's collapse, was last week given new powers by the TCI courts to request documents from Ashcroft's bank. BCB has previously declined to provide Johnson with requested documents. On Friday the bank confirmed it would hand over Oxford's bank statements.
"We have now obtained a court order in the Turks which empowers us to receive such documents," said Johnson.
The Lib Dem peer, Lord Oakeshott, said he would be tabling parliamentary questions to establish what British officials in the TCI knew about Johnston.
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Ed Miliband: we have just three months to save the NHS
by Toby Helm
4 Feb 2012 at 8:30pm
Labour leader urges cross-party campaign to block Andrew Lansley's health reform bill
Labour leader Ed Miliband is calling on the public to join a three-month campaign to kill off the government's controversial NHS reforms as pressure mounts on David Cameron to withdraw the coalition's flagship health and social care bill from parliament.
Ahead of a crucial week for the health secretary, Andrew Lansley, during which the bill will return to the Lords where it can expect a further mauling, Miliband describes the plans as a dangerous "leap in the dark" that will impose a "free market free-for-all" on the NHS.
With much of the medical profession now opposed to the plans and Downing Street increasingly concerned, Miliband says an effective cross-party campaign in parliament, backed by patients, could deliver Lansley's plans the last rites.
"It is not too late to stop this bill," Miliband says in an article for the Observer. "We have three months to prevent great harm being done to the NHS. Now is the time for people of all parties and of none, the professions, the patients and now peers in the House of Lords to work together to try to stop this bill." The worst option, he argues, would be to press on with a bill just so that the government can save face.
Ominously for the government, Labour, Liberal Democrat and crossbench peers are discussing joint strategies to torpedo further elements of the bill when it begins its report stage in the Lords on Wednesday.
The latest action to amend the bill – which would devolve power over commissioning to GPs and open the service up to more competition – comes despite the government offering a string of concessions when it put down 136 amendments in addition to the 1,800 already tabled. One peer involved in cross-party discussions said the aim was to continue amending the bill until ministers had to concede there was no further point in pressing ahead.
Labour and some Lib Dem peers, including Shirley Williams, are now training their sights on the part of the bill that would open the NHS to a greater role for the private sector. "This is the core of the bill," said one peer. "This is what really matters." Labour and the Lib Dems, with some crossbench support, are tabling further changes which they say will limit the extent to which the private sector can compete to provide services across the NHS.
Peers predict that the government could suffer a series of defeats between now and March.Privately, many Tory MPs question whether it is wise to press ahead with a bill not backed by most of the medical profession.
Last week physiotherapist leaders joined the Royal College of GPs in calling for the health bill in England to be scrapped, becoming the latest medical group to set its face against the plans.
Changes agreed by ministers last week, intended to win peers round, include making it clear the health secretary would retain ultimate control over the NHS, and strengthening the requirement of the regulator, Monitor, to ensure different providers competing for patients also work together.
But there are signs that peers are going for more concessions. The Observer understands that some prominent Tory peers may soon break cover to voice concerns about key elements of the bill relating to its provisions on competition.
Defending the reforms Lansley said: "The NHS faces unprecedented challenges from our ageing population and new more expensive treatments. Our plans to improve the NHS are essential if it is to be sustainable for the future. Doctors and nurses across the country support the core principles behind the reforms – giving more power to clinicians to design services for patients, getting patients the information they need to make proper choices and promoting democratic accountability, with councils leading health improvement. Any reform of something as important as the NHS will cause controversy.
"Trade unions like the BMA opposed the very creation of the NHS. Labour used to support reform but now they are jumping on the bandwagon of opposition in order to please their trade union masters. My father worked for the NHS on the first day it came into existence, I want the NHS to still be here to support my children in the future. I care passionately about maintaining an NHS that is free for all which is why I am pursuing a programme of reform to make it sustainable for future generations."
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Everyone who loves the NHS must fight to defeat this health bill
by Ed Miliband
4 Feb 2012 at 8:30pm
This misguided bid to impose a free-for-all market on our health service must be stopped
The NHS is getting worse on this government's watch. More people have had to wait longer than 18 weeks for treatment. More people are experiencing long waits in A&E and there are more cancelled operations.
That is the backdrop to the return of the government's botched health bill to parliament next week. But it will do nothing to address these problems.
Indeed, even before it is on the books the bill is contributing to these problems by diverting billions away from patient care at the time when pressure on NHS resources is greater than it has been for a generation. That's not all. That bill remains what it was in the beginning: a misguided attempt to impose a free market free-for-all on our National Health Service.
As it said in the notes that accompanied the bill when it was first published, the concept behind it is to apply the regulatory model of the privatised gas, water and electricity industries to the NHS. A service founded on principles of co-operation, compassion and care replaced by one based on a dogmatic faith in competition and markets. True, words like co-operation and integration have been inserted into the legislation, but the government has not backed down from the original concept. The reality is that this still represents a dangerous leap in the dark, putting the principles of the NHS at risk.
We have already heard the arguments that will be played back against us by the government. None of them holds water. First, the government will say opposition to the bill from health professionals is just from trade-union "vested interests" – as David Cameron implied at prime minister's questions recently. I disagree. That opposition includes hundreds of thousands of doctors, nurses, midwives and others.
They are people who have devoted their lives to working in the NHS. They can see how the bill will undermine the guiding principles of our health service, and how this mangled reorganisation is already causing chaos that damages patient care. That is why the people who know the NHS best like this bill least.
On Friday, the chair of the Royal College of GPs, Clare Gerada, said: "There's absolutely no evidence that opening up the health service to multiple private organisations is going to result in anything other than a fragmented, expensive and bureaucratic health service for all of us and one that will be very difficult to sort out."
David Cameron has always said he wants to make GPs' voices stronger in the NHS. So why doesn't he start by listening to them now?
The second argument that will be used by the government will be to brand anyone opposed to this bill as "anti-reform". The prime minister often tries to drape himself in the mantle of a reformer, but the truth is that this bill is working against the changes the NHS really needs if we are to make it fit for the future.
Changes like the greater integration of health and social care or a greater emphasis on prevention. And it is hindering the efficiency savings we must urgently make in order to meet the rising needs of an ageing population. The NHS needs reform, but not David Cameron's.
A sign of a reform being on the right track is whether it slowly builds support, as the Labour government did with the tough action we took to get waiting times down, including using the private sector where appropriate.
Cameron's reforms have done the opposite as every week a new group of professionals or patients turns against his plan. He has squandered any trust he once might have had from people on the issue of the NHS.
The third argument that the bill's dwindling band of supporters will use is the most desperate of all. They will say that because these reforms have now started, they might as well finish because it is too late to turn back. But that, too, is wrong.
The turmoil of continuing with a bill three times longer than that which established the NHS is far, far worse. If the bill passes, there will be even more upheaval and even more money will be wasted on reorganisation, rather than treating patients. And we do not need the bill to have greater clinical involvement in the commissioning of services – something Labour made moves towards in government.
People at the heart of the NHS, staff and patients, would breathe a sigh of relief if the bill was dropped. Doctors and nurses could get back to their real job – of patient care.
At the last election, David Cameron cited his commitment to the NHS to show he was a different type of Conservative. And he promised no more top-down reorganisations.
But all he has done is betray his promises and let people down. It is not too late to stop this bill. We have three months to prevent great harm being done to the NHS. Now is the time for people of all parties and of none, the professions, the patients and now peers in the House of Lords to work together to try to stop this bill.
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Cruise ship firm says Briton jumped overboard
by Damien Pearse
4 Feb 2012 at 5:44pm
Allure of the Seas owners say CCTV footage shows that un-named passenger 'intentionally went overboard'
A British passenger who disappeared from the world's biggest cruise ship near Mexico can be seen jumping into the water in CCTV footage, the cruise line said.
The 30-year-old man, who has not been named, went missing from the Allure of the Seas as the ship sailed from Florida to Cozumel – an island south of Cancun.
Video footage shows the passenger – who dropped from the balcony in his cabin – "intentionally went overboard" and "did not fall", the Royal Caribbean International cruise line said.
The assessment of the CCTV images appears to contradict a report from another traveller who claimed to have seen the man falling over railings at 12.10pm (7.10am local time)on Friday.
The company added: "The ship made multiple public announcements and began a complete search of the ship, in efforts to locate the guest.
"When the guest did not respond and was not found on board, the captain alerted the local authorities.
"The location of the ship at the time the guest went overboard was marked on the ship's GPS and the US and Mexican coastguard were alerted.
"Our care team is providing support to the guest's family and our thoughts and prayers are with them," the statement said.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We are aware of the reports and are looking into them."
The Allure of the Seas – which can carry up to 5,400 passengers – boasts a park with more than 12,000 live plants, a zipline, a theatre, a casino and a nightclub.
It left Fort Lauderdale in Florida on Sunday for a seven-night trip.
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Syrian embassy in London damaged as protests erupt at diplomatic missions
by Damien Pearse
4 Feb 2012 at 4:59pm
Six arrested in Belgrave Square after windows smashed as activists target embassies in Egypt, Germany, Spain and US
Protesters have clashed with police outside the Syrian embassy in London just hours after demonstrators were arrested for storming into the building.
Crowds gathered in Belgrave Square, central London, on saturday afternoon, hurling rocks and bottles at the premises, amid reports of more than 200 people killed in a deadly barrage in the city of Homs.
The latest clashes follow the arrest of six people at the embassy overnight. Five were arrested for breaking into the building while one was held for assaulting a police officer. Two officers were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
The protest in London came as demonstrators forced their way into four other Syrian embassies in European and Middle Eastern cities.
In London, officers fought back a surge towards the embassy as crowds forced their way through barricades towards police in riot gear. Shouts of "free Syria" and "we want to close the embassy" rang out in protest against the Damascus regime's brutal repression of the country's uprising.
As passions flared, protesters climbed on top of barriers before police reinforcements arrived in large vans and the demonstrators were driven back across the road.
The Foreign Office condemned the violence and said that police were reviewing security arrangements at the embassy.
In Egypt, enraged Syrians again stormed the embassy in central Cairo, smashing furniture and equipment and setting fire to parts of the building. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at a police station a few streets away to demand the release of six Syrians who they said were detained during the protest at the mission.
In Kuwait, witnesses said demonstrators stormed the Syrian embassy compound, breaking windows, tearing down the Syrian flag and hoisting the colours of the opposition movement.
Ronan McNern, a supporter of the Occupy London movement, attended the London protest overnight. He said there were 150 protesters surrounded by a ring of about 60 police officers, carrying truncheons.
He added that protesters "kept their spirits up" by singing, dancing and playing drums, while some waved Syrian flags.
The UN security council is meeting today to take up a much-negotiated resolution backing an Arab League peace plan for Syria.
At least 5,500 people have died in the country since pro-democracy campaigners took to the streets last year protesting against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
The movement at the UN came as activists said Syrian forces used tanks and machine guns to kill at least 200 people and wound hundreds in Homs, in what appeared to be the bloodiest episode since the uprising began.
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Snow and ice hit England - in pictures
4 Feb 2012 at 3:23pm
Severe weather sweeps across England as forecasters warn of freezing conditions
Falmouth Bay residents split over dredging plan for giant cruise liners
by Robin McKie
4 Feb 2012 at 2:41pm
Dredging a channel in Falmouth Bay could create jobs and bring more tourists. But the dispute will test European rules to protect ecosystems
Falmouth Bay is one of England's finest stretches of marine habitat, with a profusion of creeks that penetrate deep into the heart of the Cornish countryside, and oak woods covering the coastline. It is a distinctive, unspoiled landscape, protected by strict environmental legislation and enjoyed by thousands of tourists every summer.
But the tranquillity of Falmouth could soon be disrupted. A controversial plan to dredge a channel through part of the bay to open up the port to giant cruise ships has caused consternation among conservationists. They say the proposal could devastate the bay, in particular its beds of maerl, a coral-like algae that provides homes for a variety of sea creatures that includes crabs and scallops. This view has been backed by the Marine Management Organisation which has so far blocked the dredging plan.
The plan's supporters continue to press for action, however. They say dredging will cause little environmental damage and is crucial to a £100m port development for Falmouth that will bring hundreds of jobs to the south-west, a region badly hit by the recession. And the group has powerful backing.
In November the chancellor, George Osborne, picked on the refusal to give the go-ahead to the Falmouth project as an example of the "gold-plating of EU rules on things like habitats" that was placing ridiculous costs on British business. He urged the project's approval and set up a government review of how EU directives on habitats and birds are being applied in England. Its specific remit is to reduce environmental "burdens on business". Many conservationists fear this review, to be published in March, could lead to a dangerous relaxation of rules governing EU protection of other UK habitats.
The bid to dredge Falmouth Bay is, therefore, being watched closely. "If this project is allowed to go ahead, that could set an appalling precedent for all the other protected sites we have in the UK," said Tom Hardy, a marine conservation officer with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust which opposes the Falmouth dredging plan. "Britain's marine environment is woefully poorly protected as it is. This could open it up to all sorts of new developments justified on economic needs. It is very worrying."
Other concerned groups include the RSPB which says that slackening the rules protecting Falmouth Bay could lead to other destructive projects being approved. These include plans to develop the Humber Estuary, build an island airport in the Thames and construct a tidal barrage power plant in the Severn.
Those who back the Falmouth development plan insist the environmental issues raised by the plan have no implications for the rest of the UK. "The harbour waters in Falmouth are slowly silting up," said Captain Mark Sansom, the Falmouth Harbour Master, who has led the port development plan.
"At present, the waters there are about 5m deep at low tide. We want to dredge to make a channel that is 8.5m deep. That would allow really big cruise ships to moor at our docks. Passengers could disembark easily and enjoy trips to Land's End, Padstow and the Eden Project. Cruise companies are keen to add Falmouth to their list of UK destinations. It would be good for business in Cornwall. In addition, big ships would be able to get into our repair yards. Again that would be good for the local economy."
Last year, about 22,000 passengers – from small to medium-sized cruise ships that can still get into Falmouth docks – visited the town. Some took coach tours to other Cornish destinations. Others thronged to visit shops selling local art and tourist goods. "If we can get the really big cruise ships in then we will get 100,000 a year into the town," added Sansom. "Many of these visitors will be German or American tourists with a lot of money to spend."
Dredging the harbour will also be accompanied by new dock construction and the building of a marina at Falmouth, according to the development plan. However, its backers insist that these other proposals depend completely on the deepening of the harbour waters. "This project could bring up to 800 extra jobs to Falmouth and also protect the 450 existing jobs here," added Sansom.
The project's key drawback lies with the fact that the proposed channel cuts through some of the bay's maerl beds. "Maerl is a form of seaweed that dies, calcifies and forms layers that have nooks and hollows in which all sorts of sea creatures – including juvenile fish and shellfish – make their homes," said Hardy. "It is an extremely important habitat and an economically valuable one. These beds are nurseries for crabs and scallops, for example."
The maerl beds at Falmouth were a key factor in designating the bay a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive. As a result, when Falmouth Harbour Commissioners applied to dredge the channel they were turned down by the Marine Management Organisation – even though the new channel would affect only 2% of the bay's maerl beds. The decision dismayed many local businessmen.
"The environmental consequences have, to date, been the only ones considered by decision makers. That upsets me," said Pete Fraser, owner of Falmouth's Harbour Lights fish and chip restaurant. "We live in extremely challenging economic times, and the proposed dredging would be a massive boost to the struggling Cornish economy."
Others disagree. "The material dredged up to make the channel would be dumped in another part of Falmouth Bay, right on top of one of our best fishing grounds," said fisherman Chris Bean. "We get lots of really good quality cod, haddock, whiting and pollock there. The bay's fishing grounds would be ruined if dredging went ahead."
At present, the channel plan remains on hold. However, a project by Plymouth University scientists – set to begin in April – will attempt to discover if the harbour's maerl beds could be relocated in the bay without causing major disruption to the sea creatures who make homes in them. If the plan is feasible, the MMO could very well relent and approve the project. However, if the maerl relocation plan is rated a non-starter by the scientists, then the project will remain on hold – until the habitat directives review is completed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
By slackening how the EU habitat directive is implemented, and giving business more influence over the outcome, the goverment could allow the Falmouth dredging – and many other projects – to proceed. "This could be the thin end of the wedge," added Tom Hardy. "It won't just be Falmouth dock development that gets the go-ahead but a lot of other unpleasant projects."
ConservationFishingMarine lifeCoastlinesCornwallCruisesUnited KingdomEuropean UnionRobin McKieguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Mayfair blaze battled by 100 firefighters
by Damien Pearse
4 Feb 2012 at 2:35pm
Twenty fire engines dispatched to tackle huge flames at townhouse one of London's wealthiest areas
One hundred firefighters are tackling a large blaze at a five-storey house in Mayfair, central London.
Twenty fire engines were called to Grafton Street, one of the city's most prestigious addresses, at around 5.30am.
Large parts of the terraced property's upper floors were alight, as well as the roof, said a spokeswoman for London fire brigade.
There were no reports of injuries and it is believed that residents in the house escaped before fire crews arrived.
The London fire commissioner, Ron Dobson, said: "Over 100 firefighters from fire stations across London are now working tirelessly to bring the serious fire in Mayfair under control.
"Steady progress is being made and as soon as the fire has been brought under control our fire investigators will be looking to establish how it started."
It is thought that surrounding roads, including Grafton Street, Albermarle Street, Dover Street and the top end of Bond Street are closed. Some local businesses have been temporarily shut.
The fire is the second major incident in central London overnight. A Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in a six-storey building in Leicester Square was largely destroyed by a fire at around 5am, Dobson said.
LondonDamien Pearseguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Freezing weather causes fixture postponements across Football League
4 Feb 2012 at 11:17am
• Portsmouth v Hull and Doncaster v Reading off
• Multiple games in League One and League Two off
Freezing conditions across the country have forced the postponement of a vast number of games in the Football League this weekend.
The most high-profile games to have been called off are the Championship fixture between Portsmouth and Hull City at Fratton Park and Reading's match at Doncaster Rovers.
The match referee at Portsmouth, Darren Sheldrake, said: "After looking at the pitch this morning the area in front of the south stand was significantly frozen. You couldn't get a key in the ground.
"With that area in shade for the whole of the day, in my opinion it's not going to defrost enough for the pitch to be playable and I have to keep player safety in mind."
In League One, Bournemouth v Exeter, Bury v Hartlepool, Charlton v Rochdale, Colchester v Sheffield United, Notts County v Stevenage, Oldham v Leyton Orient, Preston v Brentford and Scunthorpe v Walsall have all been postponed too. Bournemouth v Exeter has been rescheduled for Tuesday 7 February at 7.45pm, while Bury v Hartlepool will now be played on Tuesday 28 February, also at 7.45pm.
In League Two, the following matches have been postponed: Aldershot v Bristol Rovers, Bradford v Crawley, Cheltenham v AFC Wimbledon (rescheduled for Tuesday 21 February at 7.45pm), Crewe v Accrington Stanley, Gillingham v Hereford United, Morecambe v Dagenham & Redbridge, Northampton v Macclesfield, Oxford United v Barnet, Rotherham United v Torquay United, Shrewsbury Town v Port Vale (rescheduled for Tuesday 27 March at 7.45pm) and Swindon Town v Burton Albion.
Football LeagueChampionshipLeague One 2011-12League Two 2011-12Weatherguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
The Sports Charter shines a welcome light on homophobia in football | Amal Fa...
by Amal Fashanu
4 Feb 2012 at 10:59am
No British professional footballer has come out as gay since my uncle, Justin Fashanu. Hopefully this charter will change that
After what feels like an eternity since the tragic death of my uncle, Justin Fashanu, almost 14 years ago, there are signs that the football authorities may finally be taking a stand. Or is this just a public front amid growing concerns about their lack of effort to tackle homophobia and transphobia in sport?
Last Monday, I presented a BBC3 documentary asking why none of the 5,000-or-so professional footballers currently playing in Britain has come out publicly as gay.
Maybe the programme had some effect, because on Thursday it emerged that Premier League clubs are now expected to sign the Sports Charter, which includes a pledge to combat homophobia.
For me, the Sports Charter is long overdue. It begins by saying that "everyone should be able to participate in and enjoy sport – whoever they are and whatever their background". That seems to be such basic common sense it's amazing it had to be written down. Nonetheless, it should not detract from the charter's importance in pushing towards a welcoming environment for football players of all sexualities.
Maybe what John Amaechi, the gay basketball player, said to me in the documentary is no longer entirely accurate. Maybe the "white men in boardrooms" (as he described Britain's football elite) have, in fact, realised that the game is no longer played in the realms of the dark ages.
I am constantly reminded of a vivid statement my dad, John Fashanu, made during the documentary. In the most assured voice he stated that there was more chance of a black pope than of a football player "coming out" as homosexual.
Yes, the Sports Charter shines a welcome light on this long-standing taboo, but whether or not it will reassure any players wanting to reveal their true identity and having a safe environment in which to do so is another matter – a matter I feel the English game is still a very long way from laying to rest.
The lack of players who are willing to speak on the issue of homophobia shows that turning the charter into reality is still going to be a struggle – though it has the potential to act as the much-needed catalyst to encourage the game's high-profile stars to address the subject.
For the documentary, I did find some Millwall players who were prepared to talk about it – which is a positive sign, even if many more are still reluctant to do so.
Without sounding like a cynical heartbroken niece, I welcome the Sports Charter and above all hope it will finally bring tolerance and change in one of the most loved games in the world.
• Follow Comment is free on Twitter @commentisfree
Gay rightsAmal Fashanuguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Weather forces abandonment at Ffos Las as big freeze stops jump racing
by Chris Cook
4 Feb 2012 at 10:06am
• No jump racing for third consecutive day in Britain
• Sunday inspections due at Fontwell and Musselburgh
Saturday will be Britain's third consecutive day without jump racing, officials at Ffos Las having abandoned the Welsh Champion Hurdle card shortly before 8am. Other race meetings at Sandown and Wetherby had been called off a full day in advance.
A 9am inspection had been arranged at Ffos Las but the clerk of the course, Tim Long, said there had been no need to wait that long before making his decision. "We got down to -1C overnight and it is zero at the moment, but there is a fierce wind chill and we are actually freezing now.
"Temperatures are forecast to creep up, but only by a degree or two and it won't be enough. On Thursday night, temperatures got down to -6C and that is what has really done the damage. We're absolutely devastated as the team has worked incredibly hard."
The British Horseracing Authority clarified on Saturday morning that there would be no objection to Ffos Las staging the card on Sunday, but Long said this was "not possible logistically".
All-weather cards are scheduled to take place on Saturday at Lingfield and Wolverhampton, while there is still the possibility of jump racing in Ireland at Fairyhouse. The track there remained unraceable when inspected at 8am but temperatures were rising and a final decision has been postponed until 10.30am.
Prospects are not good for a resumption of jump racing in Britain this weekend. Both Fontwell and Musselburgh, which have fixtures on Sunday, are frozen in places, though overnight temperatures did not drop below -1C at the Scottish course. Fontwell will be inspected at 12.30pm on Saturday, Musselburgh at 7am on Sunday.
About a third of the circuit is frozen at Ayr, the only track where jump racing is arranged for Monday, but officials say they are "confident" of racing if the forecast is correct. The local temperature was 6C at 8am on Saturday and is not supposed to drop below freezing this weekend.
Hopes are also said to be high at Punchestown, due to stage quite a valuable card on Sunday, with Big Zeb and Sizing Europe lined up against each other in the Tied Cottage Chase. A "slight frost" is expected for Saturday night but covers have been in place since Tuesday.
Horse racingWeatherChris Cookguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Syrian embassies in London and Cairo attacked over Homs massacre
4 Feb 2012 at 6:47am
Cairo embassy is trashed, while police in London detain five people and missions are targeted in other countries
Five people have been arrested during a demonstration at the Syrian embassy in London, Scotland Yard said. There have been further demonstrations at Syrian missions in other countries over the massacre of civilians in Homs.
In Cairo, Egypt, enraged Syrians again stormed their country's embassy, smashing furniture and equipment and setting fire to parts of the building.
The gate of the embassy in central Cairo was broken and furniture and computers were smashed on the second floor of the building, said a witness. Parts of the first floor were burned, he said.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at a police station a few streets from the embassy to demand the release of six Syrians who they said were detained during the protest at the mission.
In Kuwait, witnesses said demonstrators stormed into the Syrian embassy compound, breaking windows, tearing down the Syrian flag and hoisting the colours of the opposition movement.
About 150 demonstrators descended on the London embassy in Belgrave Square.
A Metropolitan police spokesman said a number of people were arrested for public order offences after the demonstration broke out at 2am. Windows were reportedly smashed at the building as the protest broke out.
Rallies also broke out at Syria's embassies in Germany, Spain, Sweden and the US, according to reports.
One protester in London told the BBC: "We don't know what message the Syrian regime is giving out with this massacre today – given the UN security council vote ... we don't really understand what they're doing. But we must stop the bloodshed in Syria."
Ronan McNern, a supporter of the Occupy London movement, attended the London protest.
"The protesters are being held on the other side of the road from the embassy," he said.
"There are 150 people surrounded by a ring of about 60 police officers, who are carrying truncheons. There are also about 12 police vans.
"It seems all right at the moment.
"The protesters are keeping their spirits up by singing, dancing and playing drums, and they seem to be free to leave the ring. Some of them are waving Syrian flags."
Paint appeared to have been thrown on a door of the embassy, he said.
The United Nations security council is meeting on Saturday to take up a much-negotiated resolution backing an Arab League peace plan for Syria.
At least 5,500 people have died in the country since pro-democracy campaigners took to the streets last year protesting against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
The movement at the UN came as activists said Syrian forces used tanks and machine guns to kill at least 200 people and wound hundreds in Homs, in what appeared to be the bloodiest episode since the uprising began.
LondonSyriaMetropolitan policeProtestguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
The latest stories from the UK section of the BBC News web site.
Warning as heavy snowfall hits UK
4 Feb 2012 at 6:37pm
Snow is falling across much of the UK, from southern Scotland to the English Midlands, disrupting flights and leading to calls for drivers to take care.
Fresh protests at Syrian embassy
4 Feb 2012 at 7:13pm
Fresh protests take place at the Syrian embassy in London over President Assad's regime.
William starts Falklands duties
4 Feb 2012 at 5:49pm
Prince William starts work as an RAF search and rescue pilot in the Falkland Islands, having arrived in the territory on a six-week routine deployment.
Arrest in Betty Yates murder case
4 Feb 2012 at 2:56pm
A man is arrested in connection with the murder of Worcestershire pensioner Betty Yates.
Huhne's exit 'a loss to cabinet'
4 Feb 2012 at 11:32am
Chris Huhne's resignation as Energy Secretary will be a loss to the cabinet and the Lib Dems, his former parliamentary private secretary tells BBC News.
Ear bitten off in fast food queue
4 Feb 2012 at 1:52pm
A man had part of his ear bitten off in a "violent" and "unprovoked" attack by two men in a Glasgow fast food outlet.
Large fire closes capital streets
4 Feb 2012 at 6:58pm
More than 100 firefighters and 20 fire engines tackle a large fire in central London.
Games Makers start 2012 training
4 Feb 2012 at 3:50pm
Thousands of London 2012 "Games Maker" volunteers attended their first training sessions at Wembley Arena.
Forest owner Doughty found dead
4 Feb 2012 at 7:05pm
Nottingham Forest owner Nigel Doughty is found dead in the gym at his home in Lincolnshire at the age of 54.
Vettriano's Butler in rare show
4 Feb 2012 at 2:16pm
One of the most famous paintings by Fife artist Jack Vettriano has gone on public display for the first time in two decades.
