Dec Marries His Manager - With Ant As Best Man

Declan Donnelly has married his manager Ali Astall at a ceremony in Newcastle - with Ant McPartlin as best man.

The TV presenting duo, both 39, were all smiles as they arrived outside St Michael's Church in Elswick, and Dec's brother, Father Dermott Donnelly, led the service.

Several famous faces were in the congregation: Vernon Kaye, Philip Schofield, Holly Willoughby and Tess Daly among them.

Leigh Francis - better known by his alter ego, Keith Lemon - was also seen arriving at the church in an outlandish suit.

Earlier on Saturday, Donnelly tweeted: "Morning! I know I've got to be somewhere today but I can't for the life of me remember where…"

Read more »

Family Feud At Memorial For Bobbi Kristina

Tensions between the families of Bobbi Kristina Brown's parents have been aired during a memorial service for the 22-year-old, who died last week.

Mourners gathered in Georgia for the funeral service to remember the only child of Whitney Houston and R&B singer Bobby Brown.

But the event, held at St James United Methodist Church, was interrupted by the airing of a long-standing rift between Bobbi Kristina's famous mother and father.

Leolah Brown, the sister of Bobby Brown, walked out of the church during the service to speak to reporters.

She said she was angry because Pat Houston, the sister-in-law and former manager of Whitney Houston, was addressing the funeral.

"I told her that Whitney is going to haunt her from the grave," she said.

She added that the feud between the Houstons and the Browns is "just getting started."

Although the service was closed to the public, scores of onlookers also converged on the area.

Grammy-winning singer Monica and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed were among the mourners at the event held in Alpharetta, a northern suburb of Atlanta.

Bobbi Kristina passed away at a hospice last Sunday following months spent in a medically-induced coma.

Doctors said she suffered irreversible brain damage after she was found face down and unresponsive in a bathtub in her Atlanta home on 31 January. 

The incident remains unexplained.

A hearse carrying the coffin was escorted to the church by policemen on motorcycles. It was followed by three stretch limousines carrying mourners to the service and a procession of dozens of cars.

Read more »

AC/DC's Rudd In Court For 'Drinking Alcohol'

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has pleaded not guilty to breaching rules of his home detention sentence by drinking alcohol.

A judge in New Zealand allowed the musician to remain at home on bail pending a November hearing on the possible breach.

If Rudd is found to be in breach of his conditions he could face further sanctions, including jail time.

However, drinking alcohol is likely to be considered a less severe offence.

Asked by reporters after the hearing if he was nervous about what lay ahead in the case, Rudd replied: "No, the only thing I'm nervous about is I don't, I don't actually don't know what's going on."

Asked how he would be spending time on bail, he responded by saying "Self-improvement," before his lawyer hustled him into a waiting car.

Rudd's erratic behaviour outside the courthouse has become a feature of his recent appearances.

At one hearing he clowned around by jumping on the back of a security guard; at another he raised his middle fingers to journalists.

He also tends not to wear dentures which can make his responses hard to understand.

Rudd was sentenced to eight months of home confinement on 9 July after pleading guilty to threatening to kill a former employee and possessing methamphetamine and marijuana.

Rudd acknowledged in a court summary of facts that he had offered cash, vehicles and a house to an associate after asking him to have the victim "taken out".

He also acknowledged that he had directly said to the victim he was going to kill him.

Police then arrested Rudd at his home on 18 July, accusing him of possessing and drinking alcohol. He was subsequently given a new bail condition: that he undergo drug and alcohol testing whenever police request it.

It is unclear whether he has any future with AC/DC.

Read more »

Fresh Tube Strike Begins In London Tonight

Londoners are being urged to leave work early this evening – before a fresh Tube strike brings the city's transport network to a halt.

Members from four unions begin their walkout at 6.30pm, and services on the Underground are not expected to return to normal until Friday morning, with no services running at all tomorrow.

Although 250 extra buses will be laid on, and Overground trains will be running as usual, TfL bosses have warned that all remaining transport links in the capital are likely to be extremely busy.

Additional river services between central London, Canary Wharf and Putney are being planned to ease the strain on commuters, while extra bike hire hubs in seven key locations are planned during peak times.

The walkout is because of a dispute over the pay and conditions being offered to workers for the new "Night Tube" service, which will see a 24-hour operation across some lines on weekends.

Barely a month ago, commuters faced "absolute carnage" during the biggest Underground strike in over a decade.

Unions have claimed the new timetable was "botched from the off" – and are calling for the planned launch on 12 September to be delayed so negotiations can continue.

RMT leader Mick Cash said: "Staff are striking because they will not accept that their work/life balance should be wrecked to plug the gaping holes in staffing security that should have been dealt with from day one."

However, a spokesperson for Mayor Boris Johnson has insisted there is a "fair, sensible and generous offer on the table" for Tube staff, which would ensure no one is forced to work longer hours than they do at present.

London Underground's chief operating officer, Steve Griffiths, added: "Everyone will still get two days off in seven, and staff will still be able to swap shifts to get the work/life balance they want."

The TUC has warned that Tube bosses "must not ride roughshod over the wellbeing of their employees" – and said staff had the right to expect that any significant changes to working hours would be agreed and not imposed.

Read more »

Snoop Dogg Collared For Carrying Too Much Cash

Rapper Snoop Dogg has had his second brush with the law in a week, this time for trying to board a plane with almost half a million dollars in cash.

Snoop was stopped by customs at Italy's Lamezia Terme Airport in Calabria carrying $422,000 (£270,000), well over the legal limit.

Travellers are allowed to carry up to €10,000 (roughly £7,000) in undeclared cash across European Union borders.

It is thought the 43-year-old was on his way to the UK.

The rapper, who played in Calabria on Friday night, is scheduled to perform at the Kendal Calling Festival in the Lake District on Sunday.

Italian Police have confirmed that half of the cash was seized under Italian anti-money laundering codes. 

The money is usually returned, minus a fine set by magistrates.

Last weekend Snoop was questioned and tested in Sweden on suspicion of drug use. 

Authorities said test results will not be available for some time.

Read more »

The Pill Cuts Womb Cancer Cases By 200,000

The Pill has helped to prevent 200,000 cases of womb cancer over the past decade alone, according to Oxford University researchers.

For every five years that a woman takes the oral contraceptive, the risk of developing endometrial cancer decreases by 25%.

In females who have taken the Pill for 10 years, rates of womb cancer diagnosis in under-75s also fall from 2.3 per 100 to just 1.3.

Professors believe the protective effects of the Pill, which includes a dose of oestrogen, last for decades after someone stops taking the contraceptive – with women in their 20s continuing to benefit when they are in their 50s.

The study estimates that in the 50 years since oral contraceptives were introduced, about 400,000 cases of womb cancer have been avoided.

Professor Valerie Beral said: "Previous research has shown that the Pill also protects against ovarian cancer.

"People used to worry that the Pill might cause cancer, but in the long-term, the Pill reduces the risk of getting cancer."

The study was published in The Lancet Oncology Journal, and funded by the Medical Research Council and Cancer Research UK.

Women are still being advised to weigh up the risks before taking the Pill – especially if they have a family history of breast cancer – as some research suggests it can slightly increase the risk of this particular disease.

Read more »

Bin Laden Relatives 'Incinerated' In Plane Crash

The bodies of three of Osama bin Laden's relatives were "incinerated" when their private jet nosedived into a car auction site, a coroner has said.

The trio - including the former al Qaeda leader's stepmother and her daughter - died along with their Jordanian pilot following the crash in Hampshire on Friday.

The Phenom 300 jet was attempting to land at Blackbushe Airport when it fell from the sky - in an incident that has left experts baffled.

Andrew Bradley, coroner for North Hampshire, said: "The bodies were incinerated but I cannot tell you any more than that about how they died at this stage."

Mr Bradley confirmed the identities of the three bin Laden family members as Raja Bashir Hashem, 75, her daughter Sana bin Laden, 53, and 56-year-old Zouheir Anuar Hashem.

The Jordanian pilot was Mazen Salim Alqasim, aged 58.

The inquest was adjourned and a full hearing is unlikely to take place for at least nine months while the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) completes its investigation.

The plane had flown in from Malpensa Airport in Milan.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are in contact with the Saudi Arabian authorities following the air crash in Hampshire on 31 July, including to offer advice on repatriation."

Read more »

Blindness Warning After Illegal Booze Bust

People are being told to keep away from cheap booze after police uncovered an illegal alcohol factory which may have sold counterfeit and potentially "toxic" vodka.

Trading Standards urged drinkers to avoid any unusually cheap alcohol, warning it can pose serious heath risks, including blindness.

Authorities seized some 130,000 litres of the suspected illegal alcohol from an industrial unit in Widnes, Cheshire, on Friday following an investigation coordinated by Cheshire Police, HM Revenue and Customs and Trading Standards.

The haul was worth £1.7m in unpaid duty, HMRC said.

Suspected counterfeit vodka labels and bottle tops were also discovered during the raid.

It is unclear how many fake bottles may have been sold to the public.

Deana Perchard, principal trading standards officer at Halton Council and Trading Standards North West said: "Fake vodka can contain high levels of methanol which can cause blindness and drinking it is a serious health risk.

"If you are offered extremely cheap vodka it will probably be illegal."

Warning signals include spelling mistakes on labels, a strange smell of varnish and bottles not filled to the same levels.

Trading Standards is asking anyone with information to contact  03454 040506.

Read more »

'Godfather' Of Hooligans Banned From Football

A "Godfather" of football hooliganism has been banned from every professional ground for five years.

Police say Gilroy Shaw was their "number one target" who had "become almost a Godfather figure" for those who partake in football-related violence.

The 47-year-old had a history of starting trouble before "slipping away while his minions throw the punches".

Shaw's involvement in football hooliganism dates back 30 years, and in 1988 he received a five-year football ground ban.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers fan has been barred from their stadium since 2010.

His latest national ban followed a civil action by West Midlands Police.

Following the ruling at Birmingham Magistrates Court, Chief Inspector Nick Rowe said: "Shaw is a familiar face at fixtures at home and abroad and tends to be at the centre of disorder, inciting rival fans, threatening violence, and getting involved in mass brawls.

"He has been the number one target for us for some time but in recent years has become almost a Godfather figure, organising and instigating violence and then slipping away while his minions throw the punches, hurl the missiles or damage property.

"However, we were able to show to the court that he's been in and around match-day trouble for many years and is a catalyst for trouble whenever he attends matches.

"We're pleased he's been handed this banning order.

"It sends out a strong message that we won't tolerate hooliganism in any form and that we're coming for ringleaders."

Shaw, of Bilston in the West Midlands, faces jail or a fine if he breaches the football banning order.

Read more »

Police Chiefs Back Calls For Force Mergers

Police chiefs have backed the idea of legislation allowing some of Britain's 43 forces to amalgamate after it emerged budget cuts might leave them with no alternative.

The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) told Sky News police must make "fundamental changes" to save cash.

"Most would agree that fewer forces is the best option, but if the desire is to maintain 43 then forces will need to collaborate more," the NPCC's Chair Sara Thornton said in a statement.

That collaboration process would be "helped by there being a new statutory provision that allows forces that want to work together to amalgamate," she said. 

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners estimates that up to £300m could be saved within a few years if forces collaborate in the purchase of equipment.

Nottinghamshire Constabulary is one force leading the way in co-operation with some of its neighbours in the East Midlands.

The force, which has a strength of just over 2,000 officers, has begun sharing some specialist services with Northamptonshire and Derbyshire police.

Read more »

Gusts Of Wind Blow Ferry Back Onto Moorings

Gale force winds have prevented a passenger ferry from leaving Holyhead, on the Isle of Anglesey.

The gusts of wind were so strong that the vessel Jonathan Swift was blown back onto its berth as it tried to leave for Dublin from Holyhead and the 650 passengers had to disembark as a precaution.

A spokesman for Irish Ferries said replacement services would take the passengers on to their destination throughout the day.

"Just as she was leaving the berth at Holyhead she was caught by a gust of wind and blown back in. She was only yards off the berth and the ropes had been loosened," the spokesman said.

A statement on Irish Ferries' website said: "Irish Ferries would like to advise that due to technical problems our HSC fast ferry Jonathan Swift at 14.30 and 17.15 hrs has been cancelled.

"All passengers could be accommodated on our MV Ulysses at 20.55 hrs. Irish Ferries would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused."

Read more »

Police Chiefs Back Calls For Force Mergers

Police chiefs have backed the idea of legislation allowing some of Britain's 43 forces to amalgamate after it emerged budget cuts might leave them with no alternative.

The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) told Sky News police must make "fundamental changes" to save cash.

"Most would agree that fewer forces is the best option, but if the desire is to maintain 43 then forces will need to collaborate more," the NPCC's Chair Sara Thornton said in a statement.

That collaboration process would be "helped by there being a new statutory provision that allows forces that want to work together to amalgamate," she said. 

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners estimates that up to £300m could be saved within a few years if forces collaborate in the purchase of equipment.

Nottinghamshire Constabulary is one force leading the way in co-operation with some of its neighbours in the East Midlands.

The force, which has a strength of just over 2,000 officers, has begun sharing some specialist services with Northamptonshire and Derbyshire police.

Ronnie Adams, commercial director of the East Midlands Strategic Commercial Unit (EMSCU), said the culture of different equipment for different forces needed to be addressed if chief constables were serious about driving through more efficient practices.

"When I came to join the police, one of the things I couldn't understand was that there were 43 police forces in England and Wales and those 43 police forces have got 43 different uniforms," he said.

"It's crazy. I can understand why it's happened. It's happened over a period of time.

"But it's been driven because forces have been looking after their uniforms locally. Therefore, there's no need to do something nationally. It needs to get sorted out. Really, we just need to have a single specification of police uniform."

Police forces in England and Wales currently spend around £1.7bn on equipment annually - 13% of their total budget.

But the price for similar pieces of equipment can vary considerably. For standard issue handcuffs, the cost can range from £14 to £43.

The disparity is even wider when you look at police issue boots - from £25 to £114. And high-visibility jackets also vary widely, from £20 to £100.

Nottinghamshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping is part of a nationwide steering group which has examined ways in which forces can co-operate more closely.

It concluded that potential savings of £300m could be achieved through greater co-ordination on procurement.

"Forces know they have got to do it. Chief Constables who like to be, dare I say it, barons in their own kingdom, know that they want to protect the local policing and the penny has dropped."

While backing the proposed collaboration measures, the NPCC, which was formerly known as the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), warned they may not be enough to help forces deal with the budget cuts.

The NPCC's Chair Sara Thornton said: "We've dealt with cuts of 25% in Government grant in the last five years and are set for similar following the Comprehensive Spending Review in the Autumn.

"We're likely to have lost around 70,000 police posts by 2020.  This means we have to make fundamental changes to the way we police otherwise we will fail in our service to the public and unacceptably stress our staff. 

"Improving the way we procure equipment and services will save us some money, as will sharing more within and outside policing.

"But they won't solve the problem alone."

Read more »

New Trains Every Two Minutes Promised For Tube

A £760m contract to update the Tube's signalling and controls has been awarded to French engineering giant Thales.

Transport for London (TfL) says the upgrades will bring faster, more frequent and more reliable trains to passengers who use the Circle, District, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines.

Nick Brown, managing director of London Underground, said: “Having successfully modernised three of the most heavily-used lines on our network, we are ready to begin work to bring the next four lines into the modern era.

"This will transform the journeys of millions of our customers, significantly increasing service reliability and frequency."  

TfL says the improvements will result in capacity increasing by, on average, a third across the four lines. 

The overall upgrade programme, which incudes nearly 200 new UK-built air-conditioned trains, is expected to cost £5.41bn. 

Recent improvements have already been made to the Victoria and Jubilee lines, and improvements to Northern line have made room for an extra 12,500 passengers per hour. 

Patrice Caine, the boss of Thales, welcomed the announcement saying: “If the Jubilee and Northern lines’ success is any indicator, future travellers on the Circle, District, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines will experience faster journeys, reduced over-crowding and increased service reliability. Once completed, 60 per cent of the London Underground will have been modernised using Thales signalling technology.”

The contract award does not come without controversy. In 2013 a deal with Canadian group, Bombardier, collapsed as it emerged that it did not have the requisite skills for such a complex operation.

It led to an £85m write-off in TfL's accounts.

Thales investors were rewarded with a 1% jump in the company's share price, but London commuters are bracing themselves for another round of strikes which are due to commence on Wednesday evening and will continue throughout Thursday.

Read more »

Greek Market Reopens: Shares Fall 23%

The Athens Stock Exchange has plunged 22.87% this morning as markets reopen for the first time in five weeks.

It had been closed whilst capital controls have been in place. 

The Athex Large Cap Index, which is a subsection of the overall Athens Stock Exchange is currently trading 16% lower at 203.2 points which means that £2.1bn has been wiped off the value of the country's biggest 25 companies. 

Over the last five years, as the economic turmoil escalated, the Athex Large Cap Index lost more than 75% of its value.

The largest five companies listed in Greece are Coca-Cola Hellenic - the world's second largest Coca-Cola bottler - Hellenic Telecom, National Bank of Greece, Opap - which runs the Greek national lottery - and Alpha Bank. 

Bank recapitalisation is set to dominate talks between the Syriza government and Greece's creditors this week as the next repayment deadline on 20 August draws closer.

The big four Greek banks bore the brunt of the selling pressure this morning. In the last 12 months the banks have lost more than half  of their combined value, equivalent to over €17bn. 

On Thursday, the IMF announced that it will refuse to participate in a new bailout until there is debt relief. IMF head Christine Lagarde on Wednesday said that debt restructuring was "becoming a commonly accepted view" and that "it's inevitable that there is an element of debt restructuring". 

Greece's ability to make a €3.2bn to the ECB later this month has been called into question due to the fact that it has used all bar €1bn of the€7.2bn bridging loan which was provided to it last month. 

Of the €7.2bn extended to it, €4.2bn was used to repay the ECB whilst another €2bn was used to clear its arrears with the IMF. 

Separately, data firm Markit released figures which showed that Greece's manufacturing activity had collapsed in July.

The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index which measures the performance of the manufacturing sector and is derived from a survey of 350 industrial companies saw its reading fall from 46.9 in June to just 30.2 in July, anything below 50 represents a contraction.

Read more »