Thursday, January 2, 2014

Tidal storm surge warning for Wales

2 January 2014 Last updated at 17:37 GMT

Tidal storm surge warning and gales for Wales

Huge waves crash against the harbour wall and engulf the lighthouse at Porthcawl

A tidal flood warning is already in place for Porthcawl - along with many parts of the Welsh coast

Forecasters are warning that storm force winds and some of the highest tides in decades will add to flooding problems in Wales.

Tidal warnings have already been issued for Friday - from Dale in Pembrokeshire through to Swansea Bay and Porthcawl, and parts of Gwynedd and Ceredigion.

In total, there are 26 flood warnings and a further 20 flood alerts in place in Wales.

Earlier on Thursday, the River Towy burst its banks in Carmarthen.

It led to roads in the town being flooded - though properties escaped the floodwater.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said on Thursday evening that water levels had started to drop on the Towy - but would rise again with the tides. A flood warning remains in force for the area.

Carmarthenshire council has been holding an emergency planning meeting ahead of the high tides on Friday and Saturday, with the local authority stressing that it had "invested millions" in strengthening flood defences in the area over the last few years.

"This type of weather over the next few days will probably test other areas and challenge us," said council spokesperson Ron Cant.

"We can only react to what happens. You can't protect everything. We know the weak spots and they have been addressed over the last few years."

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Bust banks - the River Towy spills into Carmarthen

The Met Office said winds could hit 80mph on the Welsh coast on Friday, reaching storm or even violent storm force at points.

It has issued a yellow weather warning for the entire coastline of Wales, valid from midnight on Friday for 24 hours.

NRW is warning people to stay away from seafronts during the high tides on Friday.

"This is expected to be the highest tide to hit the whole Welsh coast since 1997," warned the NRW in a statement.

"While the threat extends along the entire Welsh coastline, Natural Resources Wales is particularly keeping a close eye on Newport in south Wales - specifically the Crindau area; the west coast - specifically Barmouth, Borth, Carmarthen Bay and Haverfordwest; and the north Wales coast from Kinmel Bay to the Dee estuary."

The high tide is expected at Milford Haven at about 07:20 GMT on Friday, reaching Newport by 08:15, Barmouth in Gwynedd at 09:20 and Flintshire by midday.

High alert

"While the exact detail changes as the high tides approach, it is possible that severe flood warnings, the highest level of warning, will be issued in these areas and possibly others," said NRW.

The agency said it was also opening incident rooms in parts of Wales likely to be affected by the storm and tidal surges.

"We have already been speaking with our partners from the emergency services and all the local authorities which might be affected so they can put their plans into action," said a spokesperson.

"We are also warning people to avoid visiting the seafront due to the risk of being swept away by large waves or hit by wave and wind-blown debris.

"Flood water can also be extremely dangerous, and people should not attempt to walk or drive through it unless instructed by the emergency services."

Huddlestone marks goal with a haircut

Hull's Tom Huddlestone gets haircut after goal drought ends

Hull midfielder Tom Huddlestone has had a first haircut since 2011 after ending his 32-month goal drought.

Huddlestone's strike in the 6-0 win over Fulham on Boxing Day was his first since April 2011.

After a goal for Tottenham in a 3-3 draw with Arsenal in 2011, he was dared not to cut his hair until he scored again to raise money for charity.

"We've raised over £35,000, which has nearly trebled since the final whistle against Fulham," Huddlestone said.

"It's been a long time coming but thankfully I managed to hit the target at the weekend.

"A few of the lads suggested I go for a 'Mr T' look but I'm not going quite that bad."

The midfielder, who joined the Tigers from Spurs in the summer, has now scored 10 league goals in 265 appearances since making his debut for Derby in 2003.

Turkey military wants 'plot' retrial

2 January 2014 Last updated at 17:17 GMT

Turkey 'coup plot': Military demands retrial

Relatives of detained military officers protest outside Ankara courthouse, 9 Oct 13

Relatives of the detained officers accuse the judiciary of a witch hunt against the armed forces

The high command of the Turkish armed forces has demanded a retrial for dozens of military officers convicted of plotting to topple the government.

A statement from the general staff, quoted by Turkish media, accused the judiciary and police of manipulation and fabricating evidence.

The legal complaint concerns two high-profile investigations, called Sledgehammer and Ergenekon.

The cases were seen as a challenge to modern Turkey's secularist traditions.

The former armed forces chief, Gen Ilker Basbug, was among dozens of people given long jail terms last August for involvement in the so-called Ergenekon plot.

Lawyers, politicians and journalists were convicted, along with many military officers.

Thursday's armed forces statement, quoted by the Hurriyet daily, said that "police officers, prosecutors and judges in the trials... ignored the pleas of defence lawyers and manipulated criminal evidence".

Political tensions

Two days ago opposition parties called for a retrial of the cases, after a key adviser to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Yalcin Akdogan, spoke of a "plot" targeting the army and other institutions.

In recent days political tensions have been running high over alleged corruption in the Turkish government.

The ruling AK Party is rooted in Islam and has moved to curb the power of the Turkish military, which sees itself as guardian of the modern secular state founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Three ministers resigned after their sons were arrested, along with dozens of others, over alleged wrongdoing in construction contracts and deals with Iran.

The controversy also led to dismissals of police officers and judicial officials. Mr Erdogan called the allegations a "dark plot" by destructive forces outside Turkey.

Analysts say the latest dispute is part of a power struggle between Mr Erdogan's government and an influential US-based Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen, who is said to have many followers within Turkey's police and judiciary.

Topless man sought over assault

2 January 2014 Last updated at 17:19 GMT

Topless man sought over assault

The victim was walking with friends in Maxwell Street when he was attacked

A man was seriously injured in a street attack early on New Year's Day, police have revealed.

The 22-year-old victim was walking with two friends in Glasgow's southside when he was assaulted by a woman and a bare-chested man.

The incident happened outside a cash and carry on Maxwell Road, Pollokshields, at about 07:30.

The man is being treated for head and hand injuries at the Victoria Infirmary.

Doctors described his condition as serious.

Police believe the attackers may have been involved in another altercation shortly before.

The male suspect was described as white, aged 19-21, of medium build with short brown hair and scratches on his face. He wore grey jogging trousers and no top.

The female suspect was white, aged 20-22, of slim build with brown hair. She was wearing a light-coloured top with a dark top underneath, a skirt or shorts and black shoes.

Det Con Lyndsay Connor from Police Scotland said: "Our initial inquiries have revealed that the man and woman responsible may have been involved in an altercation with another man at Maxwell Road, near to its junction with Herriet Street a short time before the serious assault took place.

"The man then left in a taxi believed to be a white Skoda Octavia. This incident has not been reported to police and inquiries are being carried out to establish more details on this and to trace the victim and driver of the private hire taxi, although I would ask them to come forward to police.

"Police are continuing to study CCTV in the local area, and I would urge anyone with information that may help police inquiries, or who may recognise the description of the two suspects, to contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Murder victim 'hit on head with axe'

2 January 2014 Last updated at 17:13 GMT

Belfast murder victim Paschal 'Basil' McAfee 'hit with axe'

Paschal 'Basil' McAfee was seen in an off-licence off the Cavehill Road the day before his murder

North Belfast murder victim Paschal 'Basil' McAfee had head wounds consistent with being hit with an axe, police have said.

Mr McAfee's body was found by his mother at a house in Henderson Avenue, off the Cavehill Road, on 20 December.

Police disclosed more details about the murder as they released CCTV images of Mr McAfee from the last day he was seen alive.

Mr McAfee had also been stabbed with a knife and his house was ransacked.

Some items, including money, were taken.

Police have said they do not know if more than one person attacked Mr McAfee.

The CCTV images were taken in an off-licence on the Cavehill Road on the afternoon of Thursday 19 December.

Det Ch Insp John McVea said: "These images are a better likeness of Basil than a previously issued photo.

"We want people to look at them and think about whether they recognise Basil and whether they saw him any time between 4pm on Thursday 19 December in the off-licence until he was found in Henderson Avenue at 1pm on Friday 20 December.

"We believe Basil was with other people, but so far they have not come forward. We need to know who he was with and where he was.

Mr McAfee was found dead by his mother the following day

"Basil suffered a violent death. I believe he was beaten about the head with a sharp implement and then stabbed.

"This was a savage, frenzied attack. A number of items were taken from the house. Whoever did this is a danger to others in the community while still at large."

DCI McVea said police were following a number of lines of inquiry.

He urged anyone with information to contact them on 0845 600 8000 or anonymously on Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

A 34-year-old man arrested on 23 December as part of the investigation was released on Boxing Day.

BBC rejects subscription fee calls

2 January 2014 Last updated at 14:15 GMT

BBC rejects subscription fee calls

BBC director general Lord Hall will address funding issues in front of MPs in the coming months

The BBC has rejected calls to introduce a voluntary subscription fee for its services.

Responding to a government inquiry into the future of the BBC, it argued the £145.50 licence fee was the "most effective way" to fund the corporation.

It warned a subscription model - where users only pay for the services they want - would exclude many who could not afford it.

It added the licence fee was funding a public service everyone could use.

The government inquiry comes ahead of the licence fee and royal charter renewals in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

BBC director general Lord Hall and BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten are expected to address the corporation's funding issues in front of MPs for the Commons culture, media and sport committee in the coming months.

Also present will be former Channel 5 chief executive David Elstein, who has said introducing a BBC subscription would allow viewers and listeners more choice over which services they pay for.

'Increasing costs'

However in its written submission to the committee, the BBC said introducing alternative funding methods would have "significant drawbacks".

"Subscription would turn the BBC into a commercial operator with an incentive to provide services that maximise revenues and/or profits," it said.

"The evidence suggests a subscription model would be likely to reduce the payment base, increasing costs for consumers who remain and excluding many in society who could not afford to pay."

The corporation also dismissed the suggestion of funding by advertising, saying the quality of its programming would suffer.

"If the objective of the BBC were to maximise advertising revenues, the BBC would shape its programming to maximise the benefits to advertisers rather than to audiences," it said.

It added the current absence of advertising was a "key characteristic [audiences] value about the BBC".

Independence

The BBC also argued against sharing the licence fee with other broadcasters, saying it needed the current level of funding to fulfil its public service remit and future strategy - including the proposed 30-day extension catch-up window on the iPlayer.

It said the fee offered a "stable funding mechanism", allowing it to take risks on programming other commercial rivals could not support, as well as safeguarding its independence.

There have been calls previously from some politicians and industry figures for the licence fee - worth some £3.7bn a year - to be split amongst other broadcasters for public service content.

However Channel 4 chief executive David Abraham told the Financial Times he would rather protect his channel's freedom and act "with utter impunity because we are not looking over our shoulders", than receive the money.

Current research shows 96% of UK adults use one or more of the BBC's services each week, costing 40p per household, per day.

According to a Ipsos Mori poll conducted for the BBC in November, 47% of adults said they were happy with the licence fee as the BBC's main source of funding, with 27% preferring advertising, 22% choosing a subscription-only service and the rest undecided.

A similar poll conducted in 2004 found 31% in favour of the licence fee, 31% for advertising and 36% a subscription service.

Fresh description of New Year rapist

2 January 2014 Last updated at 17:00 GMT

Edinburgh new year sex attacker description issued

The woman was attacked at the height of the New Year celebrations

Police have issued an updated description of a man suspected of raping a woman in Edinburgh during new year celebrations.

The 21-year-old was attacked in the Canongate area of the Old Town between midnight and 02:30 on Wednesday.

Police Scotland said they had developed a "more consistent description" of the suspect through their ongoing inquiry.

He was white, in his late teens to early twenties, with a slim to medium build and wearing a fur head-band.

Police appealed for anyone who recognised the description to come forward.

Det Insp Bobby Deas said: "Through ongoing inquiries we have obtained a more consistent description of the suspect and detectives are now progressing with the investigation to trace this male.

"Anyone who believes they may can help identify him is asked to come forward.

"Similarly, we continue to urge those who remember seeing anything suspicious in or around the Canongate in the early hours of New Year's Day to get in touch."

Police initially said the man was of medium to heavy build with dark spiky hair and a gap between his front teeth.

Weapon used in fatal attack on boxer

2 January 2014 Last updated at 16:30 GMT

Mark Denton murder: Weapon used in 'brutal attack'

Mark Denton was found at a house in Hutton Avenue late on New Year's Eve

A weapon was used in a "brutal attack" in which an amateur boxer suffered serious injuries and later died, police have said.

Mark Denton, 31, was taken from a house in Hutton Avenue in Hartlepool to hospital after being attacked at a party at about 22:20 GMT on Tuesday.

He was later pronounced dead. Cleveland Police said a murder investigation was under way.

Three people were arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in police custody.

A 17-year-old, a 23-year-old and a man in his 20s have been arrested on suspicion of murder, police said.

A number of addresses in the Hartlepool area have been searched in connection with the investigation.

Det Ch Insp Anne-Marie Salwey, who is leading the investigation, said: "This is a brutal attack against Mark and it's clear a weapon has been used and we are conducting a number of searches at addresses in Hartlepool.

"We are following several lines of inquiry, and we have to speak to other people who may have been present at the party.

"There was an opportunity for people to have left before police have come along and it's those people that I would appeal to contact police."

New description of sex attacker