Radio Station Donates To Hoax Victim's Family

The Australian radio company behind a hoax phone call to the hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge was giving birth has donated £289,000 to the family of a nurse who killed herself after taking the call.

Southern Cross Austereo offered the money after an inquest  on Friday ruled Jacintha Saldanha committed suicide after presenters posed as members of the royal family.

Ms Saldanha's body was found hanging in nursing accommodation three days after staff at London's King Edward VII Hospital were tricked into revealing details of the Duchess of Cambridge's stay in 2012.

The mother of two, 46, was the first nurse to answer the on-air call by Australian DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian, who pretended to be the Queen and Prince Philip.

Jacintha Saldanha killed herself after the call in 2012

During the inquest Ms Greig broke down in tears as she apologised to the nurse's family for her part in the hoax.

"I really just wanted to say I am truly sorry," she sobbed. "I've wanted to say that for so long. This tragedy will always stay with me and serve as a constant reminder.

"To the second nurse involved, I am so deeply sorry for what you have had to endure. I pray you have found the strength to live on as best you can.

"I was always concerned about the wellbeing of both nurses and I wish I'd tried harder to stop that prank from being aired."

A statement released by Southern Cross Austereo said: "We do not assume, of course, that this donation or any amount of money could relieve the feelings of loss felt by Ms Saldanha's family, but it is our hope that it may help them in the future.

"The production of radio programmes, like television programmes, is a collaborative process. Radio announcers are an important part of the process, but they are not the final decision makers.

Ms Saldanha took the call at the King Edward VII Hospital in London

"There is no fair or reasonable basis on which blame can be apportioned to any individual, including the presenters of the programme.

"Southern Cross Austereo has always accepted full responsibility for the making of the call and its broadcast."

The two-day inquest at the High Court heard that Ms Saldanha held herself responsible for the mistake, despite the private hospital's management supporting her and the other nurse as victims of a cruel joke.

Westminster coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox said there was evidence the hoax had been "pressing on the mind" of the nurse before she killed herself, along with her difficult relationship with a junior colleague who had made a complaint of bullying and harassment against her, which had recently been dismissed.

Ms Wilcox did not criticise the DJs or the radio station but, addressing four calls made to the hospital by production staff to gain Mrs Saldanha's consent before the recording aired, added: "If she did take these calls I find it inconceivable she would have consented, as a participant in the call, to its broadcast."

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Teen Held After 15-Year-Old Killed In Car Crash

A teenage driver has been arrested after a 15-year-old boy died in a car crash in Bradford.

The boy was a passenger in a red Volkswagen Golf GTI that collided with a wall and telegraph pole in the city on Friday morning.

He was taken to hospital after the accident but later died of his injuries, according to West Yorkshire police.

Another 15-year-old boy who was involved in the crash was seriously hurt but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

The driver of the vehicle was later arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and is currently in custody.

Police have made an appeal for the occupants of a purple or maroon Peugeot, who were likely to have seen the Golf shortly before it crashed, to contact them.

Pc Andrew McManus, of the Major Collision Inquiry Team, said: "A young boy has tragically lost his life as a result of this collision."

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'You Own Politics': Activist Urges Youth Action

A prominent gay rights activist has backed Sky's Stand Up Be Counted campaign, describing politics as "thrilling", "enormous fun" and "scary" at times and urging young people to get involved.

Mike Jackson, whose story features in new movie Pride, tipped to be a huge box office hit following its release on Friday, has been campaigning for decades, most notably during 1984-5 Welsh miners' strike.

He was part of the organisation Lesbians And Gays Support The Miners, which raised thousands of pounds for families of the workers who joined the walkout.

Speaking to Sky's Entertainment Week, Mr Jackson said: "Politics doesn't belong to men in grey suits in places like Westminster. Politics belongs to people like you and me on the streets.

"Real gains (and) real change comes from ordinary people getting off their bums and taking to the streets, being clever and taking action."

Sky News' new interactive platform for young people

Mr Jackson urged young people to speak out on issues that affect them, telling them: "You own politics and it belongs to you.

"You don't need to be professional about it. You don't need anything more than a felt-tip pen and a piece of white paper to make a slogan - it's as simple as that."

LGBTQ rights have been among the most talked-about topics on Stand Up Be Counted, an interactive platform launched by Sky News for 16 to 25-year-olds to upload content around the issues they care about.

Correspondents include MartinFoy, who said: "I believe the Government should understand people aren't and cannot be changed just because they're gay."

Another user, TomDavid95, added: "It needs to be okay for two men to walk down the street and hold hands and not be ashamed that they're holding hands."

Young people can have their say on LGBTQ rights or any other subject affecting them by uploading a short video clip or blog to the Stand Up Be Counted website.

Backed by politicians and celebrities alike, the website already contains dozens of posts on topics ranging from e-voting, exam results and equality to health, the environment and the impact of social media.

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Man 'Cooked Girlfriend's Dog, Fed It To Her'

Police have arrested a California man after he allegedly cooked his girlfriend's dog and fed it to her for dinner.

Ryan Watenpaugh has been charged with animal cruelty, domestic violence, stalking and false imprisonment.

The 34-year-old's ex-girlfriend told police he repeatedly struck her while they were dating.

After one assault, she said she left her apartment and returned to find her Pomeranian dog - named Bear - was missing.

When the couple reconciled briefly last week, Watenpaugh allegedly cooked the woman a meal.

Police said he later sent her a text message asking her how her dog had tasted.

"It set all of us back when we actually read the text messages about the incident," Sgt Todd Cogle said.

"You can really get the sense from reviewing the text messages that the relationship was extremely toxic. It was a pressure cooker of anger and resentment.

Watenpaugh admitted leaving two of the dog's paws outside the woman's door but denies killing the animal.

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Motorway Gridlocked By Dogs' Home Donors

Well-wishers have been warned to stay away from the sister site of the Manchester Dogs' Home after people trying to donate to the charity caused gridlock on the M6.

Staff at the Cheshire Dogs' Home are asking people who wish to provide gifts to instead visit the centre next weekend.

"At the moment the response has been so great Cheshire Dogs Home is gridlocked, so till further notice please be patient and stay away from our Cheshire home," a charity spokesman said.

More than £1.2m had already been pledged to the charity online in less than 48 hours after 50 dogs were killed as the Manchester site was burnt down in a suspected arson attack.

A firefighter with a dog rescued from the blaze. Pic: Manchester Fire

On its Twitter account, Manchester & Cheshire Dogs' Home added: "We've gridlocked the M6 & Warrington, can donations now be done next w/end, police concerned with H&S (health and safety) wow, we've stopped the M6.

"Sandbach Services southbound will take donations to ease the M6 traffic, pls use if possible."

The charity also thanked those who have already made a donation.

Detectives are still working to determine the full facts behind the blaze, but a 15-year-old boy who was arrested on suspicion of arson has now been released on bail.

Lisa Graham from the charity said the local community has always supported the centre.

More than 50 dogs were killed in the fire at Manchester Dogs' Home

"We saw that community out in droves. We saw them coming out with things you wouldn't even expect," she said.

"To think that for the length of time we've served this community and the many generations we've been serving this community and that one of them would come and do this to us is sickening.

"We had staff here last night that were coming out of the kennels in tears with dogs they knew. There were dogs in there that they cared for that they lost."

Manchester & Cheshire Dogs Home opened in 1893 and has given a home to more than one million dogs.

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Officers 'Ambushed' In Police Station Shooting

A manhunt is under way in northeasten Pennsylvania after two state troopers were shot outside their barracks, leaving one dead and the other injured.

The shooting took place during a shift change at about 11pm on Friday outside the Blooming Grove station, near the New Jersey and New York state borders.

Law enforcement agencies from all three states began combing the rural region on the ground and by helicopter to find the gunman or gunmen responsible.

A 48-year-old man was being questioned by police on Saturday as a person of interest in the case, Trooper Connie Devens said.

Blooming Grove is a township of about 4,000 people

"No one is in custody or under arrest," she said.

Commissioner Frank Noonan told reporters: "I know a lot of people are wondering if the threat is resolved. It is not.

"The perpetrators of this heinous crime are still at large. We do not have a description or any real information about their identity."

More than 100 police vehicles were dispatched to the barracks

He added that the situation was of "grave concern".

Police do not have any information about the motive but Commissioner Noonan said "this attack seems to be directed particularly at the Pennsylvania State Police".

The injured officer has undergone surgery and is in a stable condition.

Local media reported that more than 100 police vehicles were dispatched to the barracks, including a SWAT team from neighbouring Lackawanna County.

Several roads have been closed and helicopters are searching the area.

Blooming Grove is about 35 miles east of Scranton and is home to 4,000 people.

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Family Of UK Hostage Tell IS Captors: Contact Us

British Aid Worker Held By IS Militants

Updated: 6:10pm UK, Thursday 04 September 2014

David Cawthorne Haines is an aid worker with more than a decade of experience in areas including South Sudan, Libya and the former Yugoslavia.

A father-of-two, he was abducted in March 2013 at a Syrian refugee camp close to the Turkish border, according to aid workers.

The 44-year-old grew up in Perth, Scotland, but is believed to have lived in Croatia with his wife Dragana, where he was a consultant director at Astraea - a kitchen supply company.

He had previously been a security manager with the Belgium-based Nonviolent Peaceforce.

Tiffany Eastholm, of the group, confirmed Mr Haines had worked with the company for six months in 2012 in South Sudan.

She told NBC News he was "very familiar with insecure locations". She added: "He was very caring, had a good sense of humour."

Mr Haines is thought to have gone to Syria with Agency for Technical Co-operation and Development (ACTED), a French international relief agency founded in 1993.

The threat to his life came in a video which showed US hostage Steven Sotloff being killed by a masked militant.

In the video footage of Mr Sotloff's murder, a masked Islamic State (IS) militant says: "We take this opportunity to warn those governments who have entered this evil alliance with America against the Islamic State to back off and leave our people alone."

Mr Haines, wearing an orange jumpsuit, is shown to the camera as the militant grabs his collar and a caption underneath gives his name.

He is thought to have been captured along with Italian aid worker Federico Motka, 31, who was released in May.

British Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond said the UK was looking at "every possible option to protect" Mr Haines after he appeared in the video.

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Man Charged With New Forest Mother's Murder

A man has been charged with the murder of a mother-of-five who was attacked as she tended her horses in the New Forest.

Justin Robertson, of no fixed address, is accused of killing 47-year-old Pennie Davis on Tuesday September 2.

Robertson, 36, will remain in custody and appear before Southampton Magistrates' Court on Monday, Hampshire police said.

Meanwhile, a 28-year-old woman from Hythe, Hampshire, arrested on Thursday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder has been released on bail until November 3.

Another woman, Leanne Doyle, 24, of Hythe, was charged on Monday with assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice.

She has been bailed and is due to appear at Winchester Crown Court on October 1.

A 22-year-old man, previously arrested on suspicion of murder, has been released on bail, while a 37-year-old man held on suspicion of assisting an offender has also been bailed.

Mrs Davis' family said in a statement: "We are devastated by the death of our beloved mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend.

"Pennie was a remarkable person. She was a devoted mother of five children who worked hard to ensure that they had everything they needed.

"She cared for and supported them in everything they did.

"In May she married her love, Pete, at a joyful occasion surrounded by her loved ones.

"We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and grief that her death has caused."

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Scotland Debate Energises Welsh Politics

By Tom Parmenter, Sky Correspondent

It sounds quite odd but ordinary British folk want to talk politics again.

People want their say. Of course apathy will never die but it seems to have at least drifted away for a few weeks.

At the Port Talbot outdoor market in South Wales the passionate debate in Scotland has filtered down to smallholders and customers.

Support for independence in Wales is just under 15%

Support for independence in Wales hovers comfortably below 15% - but within five minutes we found a young family with four kids - both mum and dad said they'd embrace a bold new independent Wales.

The young father who didn't want to give his name told us: "They've shown you can actually go your own separate way - if Scotland can do it why can't we?".

Royston and Iris Norman have been married for 62 years. She's English, he's Welsh - living proof that the relationship can work. Both back a United Kingdom.

Heavy industry is a visible feature of Port Talbot's economy

Mrs Norman said: "I think divide and conquer is what people say and I think it is true, if you divide people you are more likely to be able to beat them at all sorts of things."

Greengrocer Janice Jones sells produce from each corner of the UK but strongly believes Wales should be getting a better deal from devolution: "Out of the three (Wales, England and Scotland) I think we have got the smallest slice of the cake.

"Until that is sorted out I don't think we could go independent anyway."

Disillusionment in politicians is felt in villages, towns and cities across the UK.

But the big decisions like independence really matter - so quite naturally people are getting involved, arguing, ranting and dismissing the opposing views.

It is what politics is about - but it's something many people had simply given up on.

It may not last forever, but for now the people of these islands seem to have found their voice again.

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Salmond: 'Intimidation Is Going To Backfire'

A confident Alex Salmond has told Sky News the "orchestrated campaign of intimidation" by opponents of independence will "backfire".

Mr Salmond was speaking after a new opinion poll gave the "No" campaign an eight point lead on the final weekend of campaigning ahead of the vote on September 18.

A leading bank has also warned a "Yes" vote could be a mistake akin to those that sparked the Great Depression, and more retailers have said independence would mean higher prices.

Mr Salmond said: "Isn't it rather humiliating when a Prime Minister has to call in big business into Downing Street to try and get them to say negative things about Scotland because he's not capable of carrying forward a political campaign himself.

Coverage starts at 9pm

"I think this orchestrated campaign of intimidation is going to backfire, is backfiring spectacularly on the no campaign and we'll see the results of that next Thursday.

"The people of Scotland are not going to have big government orchestrating big oil and big supermarkets to tell us we can't run our own country."

The latest poll, which was commissioned by the Better Together campaign and carried out by Survation, has the "No" vote on 54% and the "Yes" camp on 46% when undecided voters are factored out.

Deutsche Bank has claimed that the economic arguments against independence are "overwhelming".

Alex Salmond's cause will be backed by 35,000 volunteers this weekend

Chief economist David Folkerts-Landau said a Yes vote could be a "mistake as large as Winston Churchill's decision in 1925 to return the pound to the Gold Standard or the failure of the Federal Reserve to provide sufficient liquidity to the US banking system, which we now know brought on the Great Depression in the US".

Scotland's SNP Government accused him of failing to take into account the country's "strong fiscal position", and two senior bankers also hit out at the claim, calling it "preposterous" and "disingenuous".

Ian Blackford, who used to run Deutsche Bank's operations in Scotland and the Netherlands, and Edward McDowell, a former risk manager for Lloyds Banking Group, played down the warnings.

It comes after it was revealed Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland have drawn up plans to move their legal bases to London in the event of a "Yes" vote.

An estimated 10,000 people attended a rally by the Orange Order

Mr Salmond said there is "overwhelming evidence that the Treasury's fingerprints are all over the Royal Bank leak".

However a Treasury source told Sky News earlier this week: "It's nonsense - desperate distraction tactics."

Former prime minister Gordon Brown has also said Mr Salmond cannot continue to ignore warnings from retailers, oil companies and the financial services sector.

Meanwhile, three more retailers - Marks and Spencer, B&Q and Timpson - have said customers would be hit by higher prices under independence, in a letter published in the Daily Record.

A sign of support for the Union during the Orange Order march

Asda and John Lewis made similar assertions this week.

Many of Britain's newspapers reported on comments by a former SNP deputy leader which appeared to threaten recriminations against businesses that backed a "No" vote.

Jim Sillars said there would be "a day of reckoning with BP and the banks" if Scotland votes Yes, adding that BP would "need to learn the meaning of nationalisation".

Mr Salmond praised Mr Sillars's dedication to the campaign but said rather than a "day of reckoning", a Yes vote would be followed by a "day of celebration".

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