Driver Killed After Exiting Car On M'way

A driver died when he got out of his car in the middle lane of a motorway and was struck by a number of vehicles.

It happened on the southbound carriageway of the M18 near Doncaster shortly after 7am on Friday.

The 53-year-old, from Gilberdyke, Humberside, was believed to have got out of his blue Ford Escort after it stopped in the middle lane between junction three and two.

A 26-year-old in a green Ford Transit tried to avoid a collision but clipped the Focus, then hit the man, South Yorkshire Police said.

Two lorries collided with the van, then one of the trucks hit the man.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said the 53-year-old suffered "fatal injuries" and five people in other vehicles received whiplash.

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Brit Charged Over Threats To Kill US Students

Detectives have charged a British man in connection with alleged threats to shoot dead 200 children at a US school.

Sky Tyne and Wear reported Northumbria Police arrested Reece Elliott, 24, from South Shields, on Friday on suspicion of making threats to kill.

An anonymous post made on Wednesday on a Facebook memorial page set up for a deceased student threatened a mass killing spree, saying: "I'm gonna kill hopefully at least 200 before I kill myself."

Elliott has been charged with making threats to kill, and was remanded in custody after appearing before South Tyneside Magistrates Court.

He entered no plea, and offered to visit the local police station every day to avoid being remanded in custody.

When magistrates decided against this, he puffed out his cheeks and shook his head.

The prosecuting solicitor had earlier told the court: "I am not so sure this defendant knows just how serious this case is."

Homeland Security in the US was informed of the comments, and the threats led schools in Warren County, Tennessee, to tighten security.

Some reports said as many as 3,000 students did not attend classes the next day.

The post said: "My father has three guns. I'm planning on killing him first and putting him in a dumpster. Then I'm taking the motor and I'm going in fast.

Warren County Schools tightened security following the threats

"I'm gonna kill hopefully at least 200 before I kill myself."

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokesperson Kristin Helm said its cyber crime agents are helping in the investigation and the source of the post had not been identified.

It is not yet known whether any potential prosecution will be brought in England or the US, or both.

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said: "At 2.12pm on Friday February 8, police received notification that a man had posted threatening information on Facebook.

"A 24-year-old man from South Shields has been arrested on suspicion of threats to kill and is currently in custody.

"The message is believed to have been posted on Wednesday. There is nothing to suggest it posed any physical threat to any school either here or in America."

Bobby Cox, director of Warren County Schools in Tennessee, said: "As most of you are aware we received notice of violent threats directed at Warren County High School late Wednesday evening, February 6.

"We put an action plan together with the local authorities to ensure the safety of our schools and our campuses across the system.

"We wanted to make sure that we had all the facts before we sent a mass message out via our calling system to you.

"Currently the Sheriff's Department is working with the TBI and Homeland Security to trace down the person who posted this message.

"We have increased the presence of Police and Sheriff's Deputies in our schools today and tomorrow and all schools will limit access into each building to ensure the safety of our staff and students."

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported police officers were posted to 11 schools in the area.

In December, gunman Adam Lanza killed 27 when he opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

He died at the scene and the body of his mother, Nancy Lanza, was found at his family home. She had been shot in the face.

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Belgium Plane Crash Kills Five

A small passenger plane has crashed at Belgium's Charleroi airport, killing five people and closing the international hub used by low-cost carriers.

The aircraft, a Cessna, had problems on takeoff and tried to return to Charleroi to make an emergency landing but crashed on the side of the runway, airport officials said.

"There was a problem on takeoff and they tried to come back, but unfortunately the plane crashed," said Melissa Milioto, an airport spokeswoman.

After having problems the plane crashed next to the runway, trying to land

Two adults and three children, reportedly all from the same family, were killed.

According to the news website sudinfo.be, the victims were a 68-year-old grandfather, a 39-year-old mother, and three children aged 7, 6 and 3. They are thought to be from Brussels.

There were no immediate indications of what caused the crash, which happened at 10am local time (9am GMT).

Firefighters sprayed water on the plane that was reduced to a wreck of twisted metal, with only the tail still visible.

Police said the airport, which is a hub for Ryanair and other low-cost carriers, would be closed until mid-afternoon. Several flights were cancelled and others delayed or diverted.

Queues of passengers built up after the airport was closed

"Our priority is dealing with this drama. Flights are being diverted to Liege and Brussels," Ms Milioto said.

The crash came at the start of the Belgium school half-term holidays.

Charleroi airport, also known as Brussels South Charleroi, serves as the country's second international airport after Brussels' main Zaventem airport and expects to handle 140,000 passengers over the half-term holiday period.

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German Minister Quits Over Plagiarism Scandal

Germany's education minister has resigned after being accused of plagiarism over three decades ago and having her doctorate withdrawn.

Annette Schavan, a close ally and confidante of Chancellor Angela Merkel, was stripped of her doctorate by her former university earlier this week after it was claimed she had plagiarised parts of her thesis over 30 years ago. The minister denies the allegations.

Duesseldorf's Heinrich Heine University decided to revoke her PhD following a review of her 1980 thesis after an anonymous blogger last year raised plagiarism allegations.

The university said she had "systematically and intentionally" copied parts of her thesis, titled "Person and Conscience".

On announcing her decision to quit, 57-year-old Mrs Schavan reiterated her vow to fight the allegations but said she did not want the claims to damage the office, party or Government.

The empty seat of the education minister before a Cabinet meeting this week

She said: "I will not accept the decision (by the university) and will take legal action against it.

"When a (education) minister sues a university, then that comes with strains, for my office, for the ministry, the government and for the Christian Democrats (Mrs Merkel's party). I want to avoid just that."

Chancellor Merkel said she accepted her resignation "with a heavy heart".

The resignation is a political blow for Germany's leader less than eight months before elections in which the she is hoping to win a third term in office.

Mrs Schavan becomes the second close ally of the Chancellor to step down over plagiarism.

Minister Schavan has promised to fight the plagiarism allegations

Only two years ago then-defence minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg lost his doctorate and quit when it emerged that he copied large parts of his doctoral thesis.

The extent of Mrs Schavan's alleged plagiarism is thought to be less than that of Mr zu Guttenberg's, whose actions earned the aristocrat the nicknames "Baron cut-and-paste" and "zu Googleberg".

Nevertheless, Mrs Schavan's mistakes were seen as indefensible given her position as education minister in a country where academic titles are taken extremely seriously.

At the time of Mr zu Guttenberg's downfall Mrs Schavan she said she was "ashamed" of her former cabinet colleague.

"As someone who was herself awarded a doctorate 31 years ago and who has supervised several doctoral candidates, I am ashamed and not just behind closed doors," she told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung in 2011.

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Sex Assault Suicide: Police Defend Handling

Greater Manchester Police has defended its care of Frances Andrade, who killed herself after giving evidence against her abusers.

The violin teacher's testimony was central to the case against choirmaster Michael Brewer and his ex-wife Kay, who were found guilty of sexually assaulting their victim more than 30 years ago.

In a statement released after the verdicts, Mrs Andrade's son Oliver said his mother had praised an officer assigned to look after her, but that police had "heavily advised" her not to receive therapy until the end of the case.

He said: "She was forced to cope on her own with only the support of her family and very close friends.

"This meant that even after several attempts at her own life she did not get the help she needed. The state of mental healthcare in this country needs reform."

Greater Manchester Police say it is the force's policy to encourage victims to seek support.

Victim Frances Andrade has been described as "an amazing person"

GMP's head of public protection Detective Chief Superintendent Mary Doyle said: "I would firstly like to extend my sympathies to the family of Frances Andrade.

"Our thoughts remain with them at this desperately difficult time and it is tragic she is not able to see she has been vindicated for the bravery she consistently showed throughout the investigation.

"I want to make it clear that it is Greater Manchester Police's policy and practice to encourage victims to seek whatever support they need.

"The advice to Frances not to seek support may have been given by another party but it was not the advice of Greater Manchester Police. Victims who have suffered sexual abuse have every right to seek whatever help they need.

"As Frances' son Oliver said in his very moving statement, the GMP officer who was assigned the case did everything he could to help Frances."

The body of Mrs Andrade, 48, was found less than a week after she gave evidence in the trial at Manchester Crown Court.

The Crown Prosecution Service decided to continue with the trial and Judge Martin Rutland ruled that news of Mrs Andrade's death should be kept from jurors until after they reached their verdicts.

After sending the jury out, the judge said: "Tragically a lady has lost her life during the course of these proceedings. She took her own life. She left no note. We do not know the circumstances in which she took her own life."

Mrs Andrade was visibly agitated on occasions as she gave her evidence over two days on January 16 and 17.

She chose to take to the witness box in full view of everyone in the courtroom, including the two defendants in the dock.

The jury heard that the police investigation was sparked by National Youth Choir teacher Jenavora Williams after Mrs Andrade, her friend, told her about her time at Chetham's.

Mrs Andrade told the court she wanted it to be dealt with internally but she said Mrs Williams went to the police in 2011 without telling her.

She then agreed to co-operate with the police and help the prosecution.

The mother-of-four, from Guildford, Surrey, who was married to acclaimed viola player Levine Andrade, was supported from the public gallery by one of her sons.

At one point she complained about Brewer smiling as she gave her evidence, but she chose to press on without drawing a curtain to block off the dock.

Judge Martin Rudland remarked that she was "clearly undergoing a cathartic experience, whatever the source" while giving evidence.

He said she was "combative" during cross-examination by Kate Blackwell QC, representing Brewer, and she had taken personal issue with some of the barrister's questions but the judge indicated that Ms Blackwell had acted professionally.

During the cross-examination, Mrs Andrade told the barrister: "You are hugely insulting, even though it's your job."

The judge told the defendants a jail sentence for both of them was "inevitable" as he remanded the pair in custody.

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US Blizzard Dump Cuts Power To 650,000

A massive storm packing hurricane-force winds and blizzard conditions has dumped more than two feet of snow on the northeast of the United States and knocked out power to 650,000 customers.

A state of emergency has been declared in five states and thousands of air flights have also been affected as a result of the monster storm.

The storm has been blamed for at least four deaths in New York and Canada.

More than 28 inches of snow had fallen in parts of central Connecticut by early Saturday, and areas of southeastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire notched over two feet or more.

High winds blastered houses with driving snow

Massachusetts has also prohibited vehicles from using any road in the state.

The National Weather Service (NWS) says up to three feet is expected in Boston, threatening the city's 2003 record of 27.6 inches.

Throughout the Northeast, hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses lost electricity.

Airlines cancelled more than 5,300 flights through Saturday, and New York City's three major airports and Boston's Logan Airport closed.

The area affected stretches from Ontario through Maine to New York City

Numerous cars that had been abandoned on the Long Island Expressway on Friday night remained stuck on Saturday morning, trapped by ploughed snow.

A nuclear power plant in Plymouth, Massachusetts, automatically shot down due to the snow but regulators say there is no threat to public safety.

The most intense part of the storm moved into Connecticut on Saturday morning as conditions eased around New York City.

According to forecasters, the storm is expected to hit New England throughout Saturday afternoon, with 75mph winds and a risk of up to 36 inches of snow.

The NWS also warned about the risk of flooding along the Atlantic Coast possibly affecting up to eight million residents.

Boston was expected to receive more snow on Saturday

NY mayor Michael Bloomberg earlier advised against panic buying of food and fuel, like what occurred during Hurricane Sandy.

Central Park in New York City reportedly received up to 8in of snow during the dumping.

Flights to and from Britain and other international destinations have been badly affected and airport staff advised passengers to check status with their airlines.

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Horsemeat Scandal An 'International Conspiracy'

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has told Sky News an "international conspiracy" could be at the centre of the horsemeat scandal, and police might begin an investigation.

He made the comments following an emergency meeting with food producers, leading supermarkets and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in central London.

Mr Paterson said it had been agreed that there would be "a very rapid analysis of current products", with results by the end of next week, to understand "the extent of this problem which is either caused by gross incompetence or what I suspect is actually an international criminal conspiracy".

"If there's a criminal act we will work with the authorities wherever they are to ensure the appropriate measures are taken," he said.

The talks came as frozen food company Findus UK said it is considering legal action against its suppliers after tests found up to 100% horsemeat in some of its beef lasagnes.

"Findus is taking legal advice about the grounds for pursuing a case against its suppliers, regarding what they believe is their suppliers' failure to meet contractual obligations about product integrity," the statement said.

"The early results from Findus UK's internal investigation strongly suggests that the horsemeat contamination in Beef Lasagne was not accidental."

Enterprising eBay users have already taken to auctioning the firm's beef lasgnes, with one receiving bids of £12 - with proceeds apparently going towards Help The Heroes charity.

One eBay auction had a Findus lasagne selling for £12

Mr Paterson also warned that the scandal "could go deeper than we thought, and there may be further bad news to come."

Substituting horse for beef was "fraud on the British public" and "people should buy what is on the label," he said.

The Environment Secretary said that retailers held the "ultimate responsibility" for making sure that horsemeat was not in their products and that they would have to start doing their own testing. 

Scotland Yard met with representatives from the FSA on Friday night over the scandal.

During the talks on Saturday morning the supermarkets had agreed to work with the FSA to report their test results on a quarterly basis.

Bosses from leading supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons attended the meeting at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Findus was not invited to the Government summit but the Food and Drink Federation, of which they are a member, attended.

Earlier, Findus reiterated its apology for the scandal, but it came under fire from opposition leader Ed Miliband amid reports the company knew some days before it withdrew its lasagnes from sale that they were likely to contain horsemeat.

Mr Miliband told Sky News: "The head of the company needs to come to Britain and explain himself and who knew what when.

"Many customers were innocently buying Findus products when it appears that the company may have known it was likely to be contaminated by horsemeat."

Findus has strongly denied other reports saying it knew about the problems as early as last August, saying that they first suspected an issue on January 22, when they ordered the initial tests.

The presence of equine DNA was confirmed on January 29 and a product recall was ordered on February 2 after further tests had been conducted.

Aldi meanwhile has confirmed that two of its ready meal ranges produced by Comigel, the French supplier also used by Findus, were found to contain between 30% and 100% horsemeat.

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China Ushers In Year Of The Snake

By Mark Stone, Asia Correspondent

Across Asia and beyond, well over one billion people have welcomed in the Lunar New Year, this year represented by the snake.

In cities, towns and villages across this vast country, one-fifth of the world's population marked the close of the Year of the Dragon and the dawn of a new year with all the traditional fanfare.

In the capital Beijing, fireworks echoed in the skies for hours. Traditionally set off to ward off evil spirits, they are sold and lit on almost every main street corner.

Beijing's Temple of the Earth Park has been transformed into a sea of red lanterns. Crowds gathered around traditional dance performances.

Police officers march as part of a re-enactment of an ancient ceremony

Hundreds of stalls sell food, drinks, toys, souvenirs and snake-themed items of an apparently infinite variety.

Food and family are the two dominant themes for Chinese New Year.

In the park we met An Ying and her parents. She lives in Beijing but is originally from Inner Mongolia.

Her parents have travelled to Beijing to be with her; a break with tradition which usually dictates that younger generations travel back to their family home.

"I will celebrate with my family here in Beijing and we will gather to watch the gala on television," she told me.

A woman and a child pose for photo next to a snake sculpture

The New Year gala is a long-standing institution in China. Broadcast live on state television it is a celebration of the year with performances from comedians, singers and musicians.

This year Celine Dion became the first non-Chinese person to perform at the gala at the gala, singing her Titanic hit My Heart Will Go On.

All around the park are families absorbing the atmosphere, the colour and the sounds in the frozen temperatures.

Some carry inflatable or stuffed toy snakes and the more superstitious are wondering what the coming year will bring. There is significantly less affection for the snake than there was for last year's rather more auspicious dragon.

Fearful that the Year of the Snake might bring with it all that the slithering reptile represents, there has been a rush of weddings and attempts at carefully planned births to ensure they fell within the last year and not the coming one.

In an attempt to overcome people's suspicions, the toy snakes produced for the new year all seem to sport unusually happy or smiley faces.

The less superstitious insist that the snake does have its value. Some refer to the snake as the little dragon. It is said that children born in the year of the snake will be rational, organised and intelligent.

As dusk falls on Chinese New Year's Eve, the tradition is to gather at the family home and watch the gala before eating a meal together at midnight.

For a country that has changed beyond recognition over the past three decades, the desire to stick to tradition is still remarkably strong though there are increasing signs of strains every year.

As the Chinese middle class grows with more money to spend, many are opting to travel abroad for the break rather than to spend it with families.

But for the traditionalists who have stayed at home and travelled to see families, the festivities will draw to a close at the end of the week with the traditional Lantern Festival.

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Policewoman Killed In Londonderry Crash Named

A 27-year-old policewoman killed in a road crash involving a suspected stolen car has been named as Constable Philippa Reynolds.

The officer - who had only been in the PSNI force for two years - was travelling in a police car on routine patrol at the time of the smash in Londonderry.

Constable Reynolds - one of three sisters - worked as a teacher before joining the PSNI in February 2011.

Two other officers in the patrol car were hurt in the crash, which happened at around 3.40am on Saturday morning, but their injuries are not life-threatening.

The PSNI patrol car was badly damaged

Police have arrested two men in connection with the crash on the Limavady Road in the Ebrington area of the city.

The Limavady Road has remained closed at its junction with Glendermott Road and Clooney Terrace while investigations were carried out.

PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott said: "It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of our colleague. This is a personal tragedy for her family and also for the whole Police Service.

The crash happened on the Limavady Road in Londonderry

"She was out on duty, working to keep people safe, when she died. My thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time.

"I and my colleagues will ensure that no stone remains unturned as we work to bring to justice those who perpetrated this crime."

A forensic officer examines the scene near the suspected stolen vehicle

Ulster Unionist member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board Ross Hussey said he was "shocked and saddened" by the officer's death.

"I would like to pass on my heartfelt sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of this officer," he said.

"We can only imagine the pain that they must be feeling. I hope that her injured colleagues make a speedy recovery.

"This young woman's death in the line of duty serves to re-emphasise the dangers faced by the officers of the Police Service of Northern Ireland on a daily basis, as they put themselves in harm's way to protect the whole community. They deserve our full support."

The Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman's office has been informed.

Police are appealing for witnesses.

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F1 David Coulthard's Sister Found Dead

The sister of Formula 1 racing star David Coulthard has been found dead at her home in Scotland.

Police confirmed they were investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Lynsay Jackson.

However, they said that it is not believed to be suspicious.

Mrs Jackson married husband Will in 2011 and has an eight-month-old daughter.

Police officers and ambulance services attended the home of the 35-year-old at Crossmichael, Castle Douglas, in southwest Scotland.

A report is being prepared for procurator fiscal.

Mrs Jackson used to run The David Coulthard Museum in Twynholm, which is dedicated to the racing driver's career.

He once said that she had "naturally" been a better driver than him.

He said that their father, Duncan, had bought each of his three children a go-kart but that he, David, had been the only one to pursue a racing career.

More follows...

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