MP ‘claimed for church donation’

MP ‘claimed for church donation’

Labour MP Frank Cook claimed on expenses for a £5 church donation he made at a Battle of Britain memorial service, the Sunday Telegraph reports.

The MP for Stockton-on-Tees submitted the 2006 claim with a handwritten note, but it was later rejected by the Commons Fees Office, the paper says.

Mr Cook said he did not recall the claim and described it as "a mistake".

The news came as David Miliband called for a "new approach to politics" in the wake of the MPs’ expenses scandal.

In its latest expenses revelations, the Sunday Telegraph says the handwritten note attached to Mr Cook’s donation claim read: "Battle of Britain church service, Sunday 17.09.06. £5 contribution to offertory on behalf of Frank Cook MP."

‘No other claims’

But Mr Cook told the BBC he could not recall putting in the claim and had no record of it.

"I’m assuming that the Telegraph report is accurate. I’m sorry and it was a mistake. It shouldn’t have happened," he said.

"Personally I don’t care what system we have so long as it is clear, open and credible with the public – and we have to get it done quickly"
David Miliband
Foreign Secretary

"In the 26-and-a-half years I’ve been an MP I’ve been to many memorial and funeral services and I haven’t claimed for any other donations or wreaths."

The Telegraph also reports on further claims made by other MPs, including reimbursement for bathmats and carpets bought in India.

The paper also features an ICM poll which suggests more people intend to vote Liberal Democrat than Labour in the next general election.

The survey put Gordon Brown’s party in third place for the first time since 1987 on just 22% – three points behind the Lib Dems and 18 behind the Conservatives.

‘In a mess’

In response to public anger over MPs expenses, Mr Miliband has called for a "new approach to politics".

The Foreign Secretary wrote in the News of the World that he admitted British politics was "in a mess" and needed shaking up.

An elected House of Lords and greater powers for local communities were essential to make politics "more accountable, more in touch, less elitist", he said.

"’Never waste a crisis’ is a good guide to getting out of a mess. And British politics has got into a mess," he wrote.

"At just the time when our problems need a new approach to politics, the expenses scandal has given people good reason to give up on politics altogether."

But it was crucial to turn the anger into real change, he said.

"We have to start with expenses. Personally I don’t care what system we have so long as it is clear, open and credible with the public – and we have to get it done quickly.

Darling rebuked

"But we can’t stop there. Some people have said that constitutional reform is a ‘middle-class issue’, whatever that is. That’s rubbish.

"We can’t tackle the bread-and-butter issues unless our politics is more accountable, more in touch, less elitist."

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat economics spokesman Vince Cable has called for Chancellor Alistair Darling to be sacked over his expense claims.

His call follow reports Mr Darling "flipped" his second home and claimed for tax advice on expenses.

Mr Cable wrote in the Mail on Sunday: "He doesn’t explain. He doesn’t apologise. He just blames his colleagues for not stopping him. His moral authority has vanished. He must go, now."</p

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US ‘opposes’ nuclear North Korea

US ‘opposes’ nuclear North Korea

The US "will not accept" a nuclear-armed North Korea, the country’s defence secretary has told a meeting of his Asian counterparts.

Speaking in Singapore, Robert Gates said Washington would "not stand idly by as North Korea builds the capability to wreak destruction on any target".

Earlier, the US said activity in the North could indicate plans for a new long-range missile test.

Vehicle movements resembled the build-up to a test last month, the US said.

Speaking in Singapore on Saturday, Mr Gates made it clear the US would take an extremely dim view of more nuclear or missile testing by North Korea.

"The truth of the matter is if they continue on the path they are on, I think the consequences for stability in the region are significant.

"I think it poses the potential for some kind of an arms race here in this region.

"We will not stand idly by as North Korea builds the capability to wreak destruction on any target in the region or

on us," Mr Gates added.

But he insisted the next step in negating Pyongyang’s ambitions would be political, not military.

New test concerns

Before Mr Gates spoke, defence officials in Washington said US satellite photos had revealed vehicle activity at a site in North Korea used to fire long-range missiles.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the US was closely monitoring the North’s missile sites and other sensitive facilities.

However, a Pentagon official told the BBC that the US had noticed this type of activity on previous occasions which did not always lead to a missile being fired.

The official said activity at this site had been going on for more than a couple of days, but did not know for how long exactly.

On Friday, Pyongyang also fired a short-range missile off its east coast. </p

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Routine aspirin benefits queried

Routine aspirin benefits queried

Low-dose aspirin should not routinely be used to prevent heart attacks and strokes, contrary to official guidance, say UK researchers.

Analysis of date from over 100,000 clinical trial participants found the risk of harm largely cancelled out the benefits of taking the drug.

Only those who have already had a heart attack or stroke should be advised to take a daily aspirin, they found.

The study should help clarify a "confusing" issue, a leading GP said.

The NHS drugs watchdog, the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), has not made a ruling in this area.

But experts in the UK, US and Europe recommend aspirin for people who have not already had a heart attack or stroke, but are at high risk of cardiovascular disease because of factors such as age, blood pressure and cholesterol level.

"We don’t have good evidence that, for healthy people, the benefits of long-term aspirin exceed the risks by an appropriate margin"
Professor Colin Baigent, study leader

This strategy, known as primary prevention, is based on the result of studies looking at predicted risks and benefits in this population.

But the latest research is provides clearer evidence because it is based on data from individuals, the researchers said.

They looked at heart attacks and strokes and major bleeds – a potential side effect of aspirin – in six primary prevention trials, involving 95,000 people at low to average risk and 16 trials involving 17,000 people at high risk – because they had already had a heart attack or stroke.

Use of aspirin in the lower-risk group was found to reduce non-fatal heart attacks by around a fifth, with no difference in the risk of stroke or deaths from vascular causes.

But it also increased the risk of internal bleeding by around a third.

Balance

However, in those patients who had already had a heart attack or stroke and were at risk of having another, the benefits clearly outweighed the chance of adverse events, the researchers said.

Study leader Professor Colin Baigent from the Clinical Trial Service Unit at the University of Oxford, UK, said drug safety was vital when making recommendations that affected tens of millions of healthy people.

"We don’t have good evidence that, for healthy people, the benefits of long-term aspirin exceed the risks by an appropriate margin."

He added: "I think the guideline groups will find it useful to have the data analysed in that way."

Professor Steve Field, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said the issue had been confusing for GPs and patients.

"There is no definitive guidance and it makes it bewildering when you have a series of papers which then hint it would be beneficial to take aspirin."

He added that many patients would buy aspirin over the counter – either on the advice of their GP or under their own steam – because it was cheap.

"This important study does suggest people shouldn’t take aspirin unless indicated by disease."

Ellen Mason, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation said: "It is better for doctors to weigh up the benefit and risk of prescribing aspirin on an individual basis, rather than develop a blanket guideline suggesting everyone at risk of heart disease is routinely given aspirin." </p

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Man Utd outclassed by Barcelona

Man Utd outclassed by Barcelona

By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer in Rome

Manchester United’s attempt to make history and become the first club to defend the Champions League ended in failure against Barcelona in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s hopes of repeating last year’s triumph against Chelsea barely got off the ground as they ended well beaten by a Barcelona side inspired by the genius of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.

United started the final, played in stifling heat, as if retaining their crown would be little more than a formality, creating a host of early chances against the nervous-looking Catalans, with Cristiano Ronaldo a constant threat.

But once Samuel Eto’o scored at Edwin van der Sar’s near post in the 10th minute after escaping Nemanja Vidic, the credits were rolling on their bid to add the Champions League to the Premier League for the second successive season.

Barcelona’s peerless midfield pair of Andres Iniesta and Xavi ruled midfield with a display of passing perfection, starving United of further opportunites to strike at a defence weakened by injuries and suspension.

Xavi hit the post with a free-kick and Thierry Henry was denied by Van der Sar before Messi crowned a glorious personal performance with a stunning header to clinch victory with 20 minutes remaining.

He made a mockery of his tiny stature to rise and head home Xavi’s cross – and in that magical moment any hopes United harboured of a recovery were snuffed out.

If the showdown between Messi and Ronaldo was billed as the spectacular sub-plot within this showpiece, there was only one winner as Barcelona’s diminutive star terrorised United throughout.

Ronaldo, for all his obvious frustrations that ended almost inevitably in a yellow card for a late barge on Carles Puyol, never stopped running but this was not to be his night or United’s.

606: DEBATE
"You have to say, the best team won – Barca passed the ball better and created more chances"

footy_analysis

Ferguson warned in the build-up that Iniesta – arguably the game’s most influential performer – and Xavi could put opponents "on a carousel" with their passing, and his prediction proved ominously correct as United were on a rough ride after the optimism of those opening 10 minutes.

Once Barcelona had settled after the early goal, there was no way back for United as several changes in formation failed to produce a spark and Wayne Rooney unable to exert any influence on events, first from the left flank and then from the centre.

And as Barcelona’s name was carved on the giant trophy at the final whistle, with the celebrations of the Catalan fans a sharp contrast to the subdued Manchester United supporters, there was no doubting their right to claim Europe’s elite trophy for the third time.

Ryan Giggs took the place of suspended Darren Fletcher in the United line-up – and for the first 10 minutes they penned a nervous Barcelona back in their own territory.

The game was only two minutes old when Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes fumbled Ronaldo’s free-kick, and only the crucial intervention of former United defender Gerard Pique prevented Ji-Sung Park turning in the rebound.

Ronaldo was then twice narrowly off target before Barcelona made their first serious insertion into United territory. And it was to devastating effect as they turned the opening exchanges upside down to take the lead.

Barcelona will credit the brilliance of Eto’o, but it was a cheap shot from United’s viewpoint as the Cameroon striker was allowed to escape by Vidic and keeper Van der Sar’s effort to block the effort at his near post was flimsy, to put it kindly.

It was against the run of play, but gave Barcelona a visible injection of confidence and adrenalin, allowing Messi to pull the strings up front and Xavi and Iniesta to take control of midfield.

Iniesta may have been an injury doubt prior to this final, but there was little evidence of fitness problems as he produced a virtuoso demonstration of the modern midfield arts, leaving United to chase in vain in an attempt to regain possession for the latter stages of the opening half.

In one magical moment, all three of Vidic, Michael Carrick and Rooney were foiled in an attempt to take the ball away from Messi, with the Argentine eventually forcing a foul.

Rooney was a peripheral figure, pushed to the margins of the game on the left flank. He was too important a figure to be starved of possession and influence in this system, and it was no surprise when Ferguson pushed him inside as half-time approached.

Ferguson made another switch during the interval, sending on Carlos Tevez for the ineffective Anderson, a positive move that reflected United’s failure to build on their early domination.

It was not a quick fix as Barcelona simply continued in their imperious stride after the break, Thierry Henry tricking his way inside Rio Ferdinand only to be denied by the legs of Van der Sar.

Xavi then almost doubled Barcelona’s lead with a 20-yard free-kick following Vidic’s foul on Messi. He beat Van der Sar with his curling effort, but it rebounded off an upright to safety.

United were struggling to get a clear sight of Barcelona’s goal, and in a bid to remedy this problem Ferguson sent on Dimitar Berbatov for Park with 25 minutes remaining.

The change had no chance to take effect before Barcelona deservedly went two up five minutes later. Xavi was the cretor with a cross that looked too high for Messi, but he defied his lack of inches to soar and send a header over Van der Sar.

United looked to mount an instant response, with Valdes blocking crucially from Ronaldo, but there was no way back and it was Barcelona who looked more likely to add to their lead.

Van der Sar saved well from Puyol as Barcelona dominated until the final whistle – and not even the most partisan Manchester United follower can doubt that Pep Guardiola deserved to round off a dream first season in charge by adding the Champions League to the La Liga title and the Spanish Cup.

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Barcelona: Valdes, Puyol, Toure Yaya, Pique, Sylvinho, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta (Pedrito 90), Messi, Eto’o, Henry (Keita 72).
Subs Not Used: Pinto, Caceres, Muniesa, Gudjohnsen, Bojan.

Booked: Pique.

Goals: Eto’o 10, Messi 70.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Anderson (Tevez 46), Carrick, Giggs (Scholes 75), Park (Berbatov 66), Ronaldo, Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Rafael Da Silva, Evans, Nani.

Booked: Ronaldo, Scholes, Vidic.

Att: 72,700

Ref: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland).

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta 8.39 (on 90 minutes).

Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport’s Player Rater after the match has finished.

Player Rater
</p

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Millionaire numbers ‘have halved’

Millionaire numbers ‘have halved’

The number of UK millionaires has more than halved as the recession has bitten into the earnings of the super-wealthy, a report has claimed.

There are now 242,000 millionaires across the country, down from a peak of 489,000 in 2007, said the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR).

The CEBR said the big decline had been caused by the collapse in the property market and stock market falls.

This year’s 70% drop in City bonuses was another factor, it said.

‘Only just millionaires’

The report added that another factor that explained the sharp decline was that "a very large number" of previous millionaires had only just crept above the £1m wealth threshold because of the rising property prices of recent years, which have now fallen back sharply.

"Having just crept over the threshold, most of these people have crept back under it again – many, perhaps, without ever knowing that they had become millionaires for a temporary period," it said.

The CEBR said the decline in the number of millionaires could be seen in the recent reduction in the sale of luxury items, such as Bentley cars, sales of which have fallen 66% so far this year.

However, the CEBR concludes that the number of UK millionaires will start to rise again from 2011 as the property market recovers. </p

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Brazil floods displace thousands

Brazil floods displace thousands

The Brazilian authorities say almost 380,000 people still cannot return home because of floods that began last month in the Amazon basin.

The bad weather is forecast to persist for another fortnight.

The Brazilian government has released more than $435m (£273m) in aid for victims of the flooding in the north and north-east of the country.

A BBC correspondent says the damage across the region runs into hundreds of millions of dollars.

Forty-five people are said to have died across eight states and many small farmers say the flooding has devastated this year’s crops, the BBC’s Gary Duffy reports from Sao Paulo.

Nearly 400,000 children are also missing classes either because roads are blocked, classrooms are under water, or schools are being used as shelters to accommodate the homeless, he adds.

The situation is said to be most critical in the state of Amazonas, where a quarter of all pupils are affected.

Despite the government’s emergency aid, there are reports from the worst-affected areas that help is not reaching those who need it most.

In the northern town of Trizidela do Vale, food supplies are said to be insufficient to meet demand, despite pleas from local community leaders, our correspondent says.

Experts say global warming may be behind the wild climate swings that have brought periods of unprecedented droughts and flooding to the Amazon in recent years.</p

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Kirk to discuss gay clergy policy

Kirk to discuss gay clergy policy

The Church of Scotland is due to debate a policy on whether to allow gay clergy into the ministry.

It could be the first time the Kirk sets out an official position on homosexual clergy.

This follows the General Assembly vote on Saturday night to allow an openly gay minister to take up a charge in Aberdeen.

Monday’s Assembly debate has been sparked by a motion, from the Presbytery of Lochcarron and Skye.

They are demanding that the Church of Scotland should not accept anyone to be a minister or a deacon who is involved in a sexual relationship outside of marriage with a man or a woman.

Fundamentally, they want the Church to refuse to condone homosexual practice.

The Assembly voted on Saturday night to approve the appointment of the Reverend Scott Rennie to Queen’s Cross Church in Aberdeen.

But opponents have said this does not set a precedent.</p

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‘Record’ Afghanistan drugs bust

‘Record’ Afghanistan drugs bust

International and Afghan troops have killed 60 militants and made a record drugs haul in an operation in southern Afghanistan, the US military has said.

Its statement said the four-day attack targeted the town of Marja in Helmand province – a Taliban stronghold.

The troops seized 92 tonnes of opium poppy seeds and other drugs, "severely disrupting" a key narcotics centre and command hub of the insurgency.

The US denied reports that civilians were killed during the operation.

However, a spokesman for the Afghan defence ministry told the BBC that it was investigating the reports.

Taliban militants have so far not commented on the US statement.

Weapons seized

On Saturday, the US military said the joint operation focussed on Marja, south-west of the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah.

It said the troops targeted the town’s bazaar, describing it as a key hub for militant and criminal operations.

The area was emptied of civilians overnight on Friday, before precision airstrikes were launched, the statement said.

The international and Afghan forces then seized the poppy seeds, along with tar opium, processed morphine, heroin and hashish.

Helmand is the main producer of Afghan opium, which accounts for more than 90% of the global supply.

The US military also said that a large amount of weapons and bomb-making equipment was seized during the operation. </p

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Call for ‘better deal for carers’

Call for ‘better deal for carers’

Charities including Carers UK, Mencap and the Alzheimer’s Society have called for a better deal for unpaid carers.

The alliance of nine organisations wants an increase in the Carer’s Allowance from £53.10 a week to the state pension level of £95.25.

They also want a change in the current situation where people earning above £95 a week lose the benefit completely.

The government has set a target of 2018, by which time it says no carers should suffer financial hardship.

Ease strain

But, the charities are demanding urgent action to increase Carer’s Allowance and make it available to more people.

The allowance is designed to help ease the strain of additional costs, working part-time or not being able to work at all because of the need to care for a loved one.

"Carers cannot wait. They are falling into poverty and financial hardship now, and need urgent action"
Imelda Redmond
Chief executive, Carers UK

But the charities say carers do not receive enough money and that many of them are struggling to cover their outgoings.

They also say most carers do not qualify for the allowance at all because of the current rules.

People have to be caring for someone for at least 35 hours a week and earn no more than £95 a week to get the benefit.

The amount received from other benefits, including the state pension, is also deducted from the allowance.

Financial hardship

The nine charities have launched a "Carer Poverty Charter", calling upon the government to "set out an urgent timetable of action to improve carers’ benefits and income".

THE CARER CHARTER CHARITIES

• Alzheimer’s Society
• Carers UK
• Counsel and Care
• Crossroads Caring for Carers
• Every Disabled Child Matters
• Mencap
• Princess Royal Trust for Carers
• Rethink
• Vitalise

Carers UK chief executive Imelda Redmond said: "Government has promised a review of carers’ benefits and pledged that by 2018 carers won’t be forced into financial hardship by caring.

"Carers cannot wait. They are falling into poverty and financial hardship now, and need urgent action."

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "We want to create a system of carers’ benefits that is able to provide effective support where it is most needed and that can adapt to the extensive range of needs that carers have."</p

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Sri Lankan army deaths revealed

Sri Lankan army deaths revealed

Sri Lanka says more than 6,200 security personnel were killed and almost 30,000 wounded in the final three years of the war with the Tamil Tigers.

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa revealed the figures on state TV – the first such official statement.

It is thought at least 80,000 people have been killed in the 26-year war.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is to arrive in Sri Lanka on Friday to discuss the plight of about 275,000 internally displaced people.

Sri Lanka officially announced an end to the war this week, after its troops took the last segment of land held by the rebels, and said it had killed the top Tamil Tiger leadership, including its chief, Velupillai Prabhakaran.

‘Reconciliation’

Mr Rajapaksa, brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, told the state-run Independent Television Network that the final phase of the operation against the rebels had begun in August 2006.

INTERNALLY DISPLACED

• Vavuniya: 25 camps, 255,000 people
• Jaffna: 12 camps, 11,064 people
• Mannar: Three camps, 845 people
• Trincomalee: Two camps, 6,642 people

Source: Sri Lankan human rights ministry as of 22 May

Humanitarian challenge

Winning the peace

"Since then the security forces, including the army, navy, the air force, police and the civil defence force, have lost 6,261 personnel killed and 29,551 wounded," Mr Rajapaksa said.

"We made huge sacrifices for this victory."

There are no official figures for the number of Tamil Tiger rebels killed in the civil war, although estimates vary from between 15,000 and more than 22,000.

The UN says 7,000 civilians have died since January alone, although the government disputes this figure.

The focus will now shift to the resettlement of the internally displaced.

On Thursday, two visiting Indian envoys met the president and said they had been told Sri Lanka would resettle most of the displaced Tamils within six months.

The issue will be top of Mr Ban’s agenda when he arrives.

Aid groups complain their access to the displaced camps has been greatly restricted.

Mr Ban will visit the Manik Farm area in Vavuniya, where most of the displaced are held.

He has sent his own envoy, Vijay Nambiar, ahead of him and on Friday Mr Nambiar said there had to be a political reconciliation.

"The process of national reconciliation, we feel, must be all inclusive so that it can fully address the legitimate aspirations of the Tamils as well as other minorities," he said.

"It is important that victory becomes a victory for all Sri Lankans."

Mr Nambiar said he had flown over the conflict zone to assess it.

"We were not able to see any civilians. What was truly striking was the almost total absence of human habitation… it was almost eerie."

He would also not rule out possible investigation of war crimes.

"Where there are grave and systematic violations of international humanitarian law, these are things which should be looked at by the international community, by the United Nations," Mr Nambiar said.</p

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