Markets rally on Bin Laden death

2 May 2011 Last updated at 07:33 GMT Stock markets have been volatile in past weeks The US dollar has rebounded and stock markets gained in Asia and Europe after US President Barack Obama said Osama Bin Laden had been killed.

Oil prices slid more than 1%, while "safe havens" such as gold and silver also lost value.

Analysts said Bin Laden's death could reduce security risks and would help lift consumer sentiment in the US.

But they warned that it would do little to ease the longer-term risks hanging over the US and global economies.

"There is some feel-good value and the market will like that," said Chip Hanlon of Delta Global Advisors.

But he added: "It doesn't change much about the energy situation and doesn't change much about the ongoing battle with radical Islamists."

Stock index futures indicated that Wall Street's main S&P 500 index would rise by 0.7% when it opened later on Monday.

In Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 index gained 1.6%, closing above the 10,000 level for the first time since mid-March, when the country was struck by a deadly earthquake and tsunami.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 was closed for a public holiday, but other bourses, including those in France and Germany, opened higher.

Several stock markets in Asia, including in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, were also closed for a public holiday on Monday and will react to the news of Bin Laden's death on Tuesday.

Cheaper crude

Brent crude oil was trading $1.45 lower at $124.44, while US light shed $1.50 to $112.43.

Oil prices have been pushed to near record levels in recent weeks by the fighting in Libya, and political instability in the Middle East.

At the same time, producer countries such as Saudi Arabia have increased their output in an effort to ease fears of a supply squeeze.

Silver was the day's biggest declining commodity. At one point, it was trading some 13% lower.

Gold also dropped as investors bet that economic growth in the US was improving, albeit slowly, and that gains in the two metals were overdone.

Analysts said the rise in stocks markets reflected a willingness by investors to put money into riskier assets, in the belief that Bin Laden's death had removed some of the uncertainties hanging over world events.

"There is always a reaction in commodities to news of this nature," said David Lennox of Fat Prophets.

"The markets will always react quickly, and in this case it is someone who has been held out as the father of all terrorism.

But any easing we might see in oil or gold markets, in my view, will be short-lived. The longer-term impact will not be substantial."

Greater threat?

But some analysts said Bin Laden's death might actually incite more violence around the world.

"The immediate thing is how it will affect US assets: its embassies, personnel and physical installations," said Arjuna Mahendran, chief strategist at HSBC Private Bank.

"Does it raise the threat level? That's the key thing. I think it does."

The US State Department has cautioned its embassies and citizens against the possibility of reprisals from al-Qaeda, the organisation that Bin Laden started and led.

The department has also issued a worldwide travel alert warning of greater potential for anti-American violence.

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VIDEO: Cameron reaction to Bin Laden death

2 May 2011 Last updated at 06:35 GMT Help

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Girl trampled to death by horse

2 May 2011 Last updated at 06:57 GMT A 13-year-old girl has died in hospital after an accident involving her horse in south Cumbria.

She was tending the animal in a field in Garsdale on Friday, when it is thought the animal became frightened and stood on her chest, police said.

The Air Ambulance flew her to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary but she died later that day in the operating theatre.

Cumbria police have investigated the matter and have said there were no suspicious circumstances.

A spokesperson for the police said the girl suffered "severe chest injuries which were life threatening".

The matter is to be passed to the Coroner.

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Bin Laden death prompts UK alert

2 May 2011 Last updated at 08:59 GMT Osama Bin Laden was blamed for the 9/11 attacks by the US The UK has been urged to be vigilant in the wake of the death of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, with embassies worldwide ordered to review their security.

Bin Laden, blamed by the US for the 9/11 attacks, was killed by US forces about 62 miles from Pakistan's capital.

Prime Minister David Cameron hailed the death as "a great success" but said it was not the end of terror threats.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said the network may try to reassert itself.

Mr Cameron said early on Monday, just hours after US President Barak Obama confirmed the death: "The news Osama Bin Laden is dead will bring great relief to people across the world."

He later spoke from the prime minister's country residence, Chequers: "This news will be welcomed right across our country. Of course, it does not mark the end of the threat we face from extremist terror - indeed we will have to be particularly vigilant in the weeks ahead. But it is, I believe, a massive step forward."

Following Bin Laden's death, the US put its embassies around the world on alert, warning Americans of the possibility of al-Qaeda reprisal attacks for Bin Laden's killing.

Mr Hague also stressed the likelihood of reprisals against UK targets.

"We must remember that this is not the end of being vigilant against al-Qaeda and associated groups, and, in fact, there may be parts of al-Qaeda that will try to show that they are still in business in the coming weeks, as indeed some of them are.

David Cameron: "It is a massive step forward"

"So I have already this morning asked our embassies to review their security, to make sure that vigilance is heightened - and I think that will have to be our posture for some time to come.

"This is a very serious blow to al-Qaeda, but like any organisation that has suffered a serious blow, they will want to show in some way that they are still able to operate."

Bin Laden was top of the US "most wanted" list, and President Obama said his death was "the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al-Qaeda".

In the attacks in New York and Washington on 11 September, 2001, 67 Britons were among the 3,000 people killed when four planes were hijacked and flown into New York's World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.

Tony Blair, UK prime minister at the time of the attacks, expressed his "heartfelt gratitude to President Obama and to all of those who so brilliantly undertook and executed this operation".

Continue reading the main story

Frankly there were periods during those 10 years when it was far from certain where Bin Laden was or even that the trail had not gone cold”

End Quote Douglas Alexander Shadow Foreign Secretary "We should never forget 9/11 was also the worst ever terrorist attack against UK civilians, and our thoughts are with all those - American, British and from nations across the world - who lost their lives and with their loved ones who remain and who live with their loss.

"The operation shows those who commit acts of terror against the innocent will be brought to justice, however long it takes."

Mr Cameron said it was "a time to remember all those murdered" by Bin Laden, and he congratulated Mr Obama and others responsible for carrying out the operation.

"Osama Bin Laden was responsible for the worst terrorist atrocities the world has seen - for 9/11 and for so many attacks, which have cost thousands of lives, many of them British," Mr Cameron said.

"It is a great success that he has been found and will no longer be able to pursue his campaign of global terror."

Bin Laden evaded the forces of the US and its allies for almost a decade, despite a $25m (£15m) bounty on his head.

He was killed in a firefight in a fortified residence in Abbottabad, 100km (62 miles) north-east of Islamabad.

William Hague: "We should be relieved that Osama Bin Laden's terror... is now at an end"

The property had 4m-6m (12ft-18ft) walls, was eight times larger than other homes in the area and was valued at "several million dollars", though it had no telephone or internet connection.

Mr Hague acknowledged that there had been a "general assumption" that Bin Laden was hiding in the mountainous, tribal regions of Pakistan rather than the area around the capital, Islamabad.

But he added: "I don't think we're surprised by anything any more."

'Huge setback'

Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said he agreed with Mr Cameron in congratulating the US special forces.

He too emphasised the need to remain vigilant, but added: "It is a huge setback for al-Qaeda, because the survival of Osama Bin Laden had become part of the propaganda that they were using to try and bring people to their hate-filled ideology."

Mr Alexander said there had been a continued international focus to bring Bin Laden to justice, "but frankly there were periods during those 10 years when it was far from certain where Bin Laden was or even that the trail had not gone cold".

"There will be plenty of time for questions to be asked and answers offered," he said, adding that immediate steps needed to be taken to keep everybody safe.

He also said there needed to continued efforts to ensure that people in Pakistan and across the region understand that their best interests are served by following the rule of law.

Former Foreign Secretary David Miliband tweeted his reaction to the death of Osama Bin Laden, saying: "A day to remember the victims of terrorism and the bravery of our troops. But also a historic chance to build for the future."

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Paddling pool death boy tribute

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Sub death man 'devoted to family'

9 April 2011 Last updated at 16:52 GMT Lt Cdr Ian Molyneux's wife Gillian said he would "live on" in their children A Royal Navy officer shot dead on board a nuclear submarine was "devoted" to his family, his widow has said.

Lt Cdr Ian Molyneux, 36, was shot on board HMS Astute as it was docked in Southampton on a "goodwill" visit on Friday afternoon.

A second officer was shot and is in hospital. A Royal Navy serviceman has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Lt Cdr Molyneux, of Wigan, Greater Manchester, was in charge of the vessel's missiles.

His widow, Gillian, said: "Ian was utterly devoted to his family.

"Everything he did was for us. He was very proud to be an officer in the Royal Navy Submarine Service.

"He will live on in our four beautiful children."

First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope said: "This is a very sad day for the Royal Navy and in particular the submarine service.

'Good bloke'

"My personal thoughts and sympathies and those of the whole Royal Navy are with the family of Lt Cdr Molyneux, and that of the injured submariner.

"This incident is indeed tragic and the Royal Navy, in co-operation with the Hampshire Constabulary, will investigate this incident fully."

Capt Phil Buckley, captain of the Faslane Flotilla, to which HMS Astute belongs, said Lt Cdr Molyneux's family had the flotilla's "deepest sympathy".

Ch Supt David Thomas: "Officers have questioned 20 witnesses"

"Ian Molyneux was a thoroughly professional and competent submarine engineer and a great asset to HMS Astute and the Royal Navy's Submarine Service.

"His loss will also be felt by his shipmates and across the service. He was, simply, a good bloke."

The injured crewman, who has not been named by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), is conscious and in a stable condition in hospital.

Hampshire Police said the full circumstances leading to the events had not yet been established but they were not related to terrorism.

Officers have been granted more time by Southampton magistrates to question the arrested man.

Gunman overpowered

More than 20 witnesses have so far been questioned.

Ch Supt David Thomas said HMS Astute remained a crime scene and was yet to be released back to the MoD.

Eleven children were waiting to board the submarine when the shooting happened

Earlier, the leader of Southampton City Council, Royston Smith, described how he overpowered the firing gunman while on a guided tour of the vessel.

He was on board with the city council's chief executive and mayor as part of a civic party.

Mr Smith, who once served in the RAF, described at least six shots being fired.

He said: "At some point I decided that the best form of defence was to try to disarm him. I guess I'm lucky he did not hit me."

The Port of Southampton has been fully reopened following the incident.

HMS Astute has been berthed in Southampton since Wednesday for a five-day official visit.

The 97m (318ft)-long craft is the UK's newest nuclear-powered attack submarine and is based at the Faslane Naval Base on the River Clyde.

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Teenager charged over stab death

9 April 2011 Last updated at 09:22 GMT George McLaughlin was found with stab wounds A teenager has been charged in connection with the murder of a 45-year-old man in East Renfrewshire.

George McLaughlin was found with stab wounds in a common close in Gertrude Place, Barrhead, in the early hours of Sunday 3 April.

Strathclyde Police said he had been involved in a row earlier in the evening.

The force said an 18-year-old had been arrested. He is expected to appear at Paisley Sheriff Court on Monday.

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Men 'stamped urban fox to death'

8 April 2011 Last updated at 14:46 GMT The men were filmed attacking the fox on the store's CCTV system Three men who killed an urban fox by stamping it to death have been given suspended prison sentences.

Magistrates in Rhondda were told they caught the animal in a supermarket car park in Pontypridd where staff used to feed it.

Jamie Davies, 19, Jason Jones, 25, and Daniel Silvestros, 22, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a fox by stamping, beating and kicking.

All were sentenced to 20 weeks in jail, suspended for a year.

More to follow.

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Thousands at alcohol 'death risk'

21 February 2011 Last updated at 08:01 GMT Prof Sir Ian Gilmore said drinking culture must change

Poor alcohol regulation could cost up to 250,000 lives in England and Wales over the next 20 years, doctors warn.

Writing in The Lancet, leading liver disease specialists say measures including a minimum price of 50p per unit are urgently needed.

They also said the coalition government was "too close" to the drinks industry.

But the Department of Health said it was taking "tough action", while the drinks industry said it was "playing its part in tackling alcohol misuse".

The scientists predicted UK deaths from liver disease in four different scenarios.

The best case was based on the UK following the example of France, which had a deep-seated problem in the 1960s, with high liver disease deaths linked to the consumption of cheap alcohol.

Drinking levels there were reduced by imposing strict marketing restrictions.

Following that example, the doctors predict the UK could reduce the current level of deaths from liver disease of 11 per 100,000 by a third.

But they warn if nothing is done, deaths from all alcohol-related causes - including cancers and road accidents - could claim the lives of 250,000 people in England and Wales over the coming two decades.

'Serious situation'

The medics, led by Professor Sir Ian Gilmore who has long campaigned for action on alcohol misuse, welcomed the coalition government's plans to keep duty rises on alcohol at 2% above inflation.

But they say plans to ban the sale of alcohol at below cost price, and to increase duty on beer stronger than 7.5% proof, are "inconsequential" because only a tiny percentage of sales fall into that category.

Sir Ian told the BBC there had been a "very close link" between the falling prices in real terms over the last 20 years and the amount Britons drank.

"Alcohol is not an ordinary commodity like soap powder," said Sir Ian.

"It is a drug, it happens to be legal, but it is a drug and there are more than 1.5 million people addicted to alcohol. We think, like other areas of public health, like smoking, like seatbelts, there is a strong case for tougher regulation and the most effective regulation would be around price."

Continue reading the main story

This paper highlights the stark future we face if the government continues to pander to the agendas of the drinks industry”

End Quote Professor Jon Rhodes British Society of Gastroenterology president Sir Ian said recent figures had shown a slight decline in the level of alcohol consumption.

But he warned: "Fewer people are drinking more".

He added the claim that the government was "too close" to the drinks industry had come from the health select committee, who said ministers listened too much to the drinks industry and not enough to their own health experts.

The doctors also criticise government moves to include representatives from the drinks trade - but not alcohol health experts - on its "responsibility deal" board, which will help steer public health policy on drinking.

Sir Richard Thompson, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said: "How many more people have to die from alcohol-related conditions, and how many more families devastated by the consequences before the government takes the situation as seriously as it took the dangers of tobacco?"

Don Shenker of Alcohol Concern added: "Government need to decide whose side it is on, that of the general public or drinks industry shareholders?

"We have to accept that in order to save both lives and our quality of life, certain measures which the industry won't like must be introduced to protect the public's health."

But a spokesman for the Wine and Spirit Trade Association said: "The authors ignore the fact that alcohol taxes and prices are among the highest in Europe, in contrast to France, a country with low prices yet cited as a nation having achieved a reduction in liver-related deaths."

He added that the drinks industry was "committed to playing (its) part in addressing the issues associated with alcohol misuse".

David Poley, chief executive of the Portman Group, which also represents UK drinks producers, said: "Latest government statistics show alcohol related deaths actually fell in the UK last year and we want to see that continue. 

"That's why the industry puts its energies into funding health education campaigns and working with people who are serious about reducing alcohol misuse in the UK.

"Creating doomsday scenarios is not in anyone's best interests, least of all the responsible majority of people who enjoy alcohol in moderation as part of a healthy lifestyle."   

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "The government has wasted no time in taking tough action to tackle problem drinking, including plans to stop supermarkets selling below-cost alcohol and working to introduce a tougher licensing regime."

She claimed the government was "taking a bold new approach" to public health.

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Man released over Michaela death

12 February 2011 Last updated at 12:33 GMT Sandip Moneea, 41, Raj Theekoy, 33, and Avinash Treebhoowoon, 29, have already been charged over the killing One of the men arrested in connection with the murder of Michaela McAreavey in Mauritius has been released without charge.

Seenarain Mungoo, 39, is a security officer at the Legends Hotel and had been charged with conspiracy.

Four men are still being held in connection with the murder.

Mrs McAreavey, 27,the daughter of Tyrone Gaelic football manager Mickey Harte, was found strangled in her honeymoon hotel room in Grand Gaube.

Mr Mungoo is from Petit Raffray- the same village as Sandip Moneea - who is charged with murdering Michaela but has not confessed to the crime.

Sandip Moneea, 41, and Avinash Treebhoowoon, 29, are charged with Mrs McAreavey murder.

Raj Theekoy, 33, has been charged with conspiracy to murder.

In January Mr Treebhoowoon confessed to the killing.

A fourth man, Dassen Narayanen, 26, who also works for hotel security was charged with aiding to commit a crime.

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Crash death driver's sentence cut

11 February 2011 Last updated at 08:31 GMT Donna Wells died when Pitcher's car left the road and hit a tree A Lincoln man convicted of causing the death of his passenger in a car crash has had his sentence reduced on appeal.

Lucas Pitcher was jailed in December after admitting causing 31-year-old Donna Wells' death by careless driving.

The 23-year-old lost control of his Peugeot 307 and hit a tree on Somerton Gate Lane in Waddington, near Lincoln, in December 2009.

On Thursday, judges at London's Appeal Court cut his jail term from 12 months to eight months.

Pitcher, who worked with Ms Wells in the NHS, was giving her a lift when his office car span off the road, his trial last year at Lincoln Crown Court heard.

The prosecution claimed he was paying insufficient attention as the car approached a crest in the road.

Pitcher, of St Helens Avenue, also suffered serious injuries in the crash, including head wounds and fractures.

The Appeal Court was told the stretch of Somerton Gate Lane had been the scene of other serious accidents in the past.

Sir David Clarke, sitting with Lord Justice Moore-Bick and Mr Justice Nicol, said Pitcher was exceeding the 60mph speed limit before the crash, but had been "deeply affected" by the loss of his friend and colleague.

The crown court judge had faced a "difficult sentencing exercise", added Sir David, concluding that 12 months was too long.

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