Requests To Pull UK Google Web Links Double

UK Government agencies and courts nearly doubled their number of requests for links to online content to be removed, Google has revealed.

The internet search firm said it received 97 content removal requests between January and June asking for more than 3,000 items to be taken down.

The firm's Transparency Report said this was an increase of 98% compared with the previous six-month period.

It said it had been asked by one unnamed British law enforcement agency to remove 14 search results.

The force in question said the results were linking to sites that criticised the police, and claimed individuals were involved in obscuring crimes.

Google said it did not remove any content in response to this request.

It said it also received a request from another local law enforcement agency to remove a YouTube video accusing it of racism. Again, it said it did not remove any content.

Google regularly gets requests from government agencies and courts around the world to remove content from its services.

It said: "Governments ask companies to remove content for many different reasons.

"For example, some content removals are requested due to allegations of defamation, while others are due to allegations that the content violates local laws prohibiting hate speech or pornography.

"Laws surrounding these issues vary by country, and the requests reflect the legal context of a given jurisdiction."

Worldwide, Google received 39% more requests to remove links to allegedly defamatory content, while there was a 20% rise in requests regarding privacy and security concerns.

The defamation requests included cases involving a local mayor, judge and police chief in Brazil, a government official in China and a politician's wife in Germany.

In response to a court order in India, Google removed 360 search results linked to web pages containing adult videos that allegedly violated an individual's personal privacy.

In Monaco, Google received a request from the legal representatives of a member of the royal family to remove five blog posts containing images that allegedly violated her privacy.

It said it removed four of the blog posts cited in that request.

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The Killers' Gigs Cancelled Due To Sore Throat

The Killers have been forced to cancel one of their UK concerts after just four songs because their lead singer was suffering from a sore throat.

Thousands of fans at the sold-out Manchester Arena were left disappointed when Brandon Flowers was unable to continue the show after losing his voice.

The US rock band had been due to play a second gig at the Arena on Wednesday, but that has now been cancelled as well.

The Killers apologised for the abrupt cancellation and said they hoped to reschedule both gigs.

They tweeted: "Both Manchester shows (scheduled for the 13th & 14th) have been cancelled. We will have info about the rescheduled dates very soon."

They added on Facebook: "Manchester, we started something we couldn't finish and we're so, so sorry. Working on rescheduling tonight and tomorrow's shows. Will let you know new dates ASAP."

Flowers, seen here in August, managed to struggle through three full songs

Katherine Vine, a reporter for the Manchester Evening News, was at Tuesday night's gig. She said: "They played Mr Brightside and it sounded fine. I thought it was going to be great.

"But after the third song, Smile Like You Mean It, Brandon said that his voice had gone and that he had a Chinese remedy drink so he would take that.

"They started the fourth song, but he didn't sing a lot of it and was motioning to the rest of the band that he could not carry on.

"They left the stage and then a bloke came out and said that the gig was cancelled."

However, she said the crowd reacted well to the bad news.

"There were a few boos, but most people just applauded and made their way home," she added.

Manchester Arena said ticketholders should retain their tickets and contact their point of purchase for further information.

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Scientists Halt MRSA Outbreak With DNA Test

A team of scientists halted an outbreak of MRSA in a special care baby unit by cracking the superbug's genetic code.

It meant researchers were quickly able to identify the bacterial strain causing the outbreak and trace it back to one health worker.

The worker was treated to remove the MRSA colonisation, which stopped the spread of the superbug in its tracks.

The scientists are now developing the concept into a simple system that can be used routinely by hospital staff who are not genetics experts. They are aiming to have it ready in a "few years".

Professor Sharon Peacock, from Cambridge University, who led the research team, said : "What we're working towards is effectively a 'black box'. Information on the genome sequence goes into the system and is interpreted, and what comes out the other end is a report to the health care worker."

She said the 'black box' would be able to give information about how the strain would react to antibiotics and about how quickly it could spread.

Testing would cost just a few pounds and the results would be available in hours.

The research was carried out at the special care baby unit at the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge, part of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Hand-washing routines have been used to contain the spread of MRSA

The scientists used a technique called rapid whole genome sequencing, which maps an organism's entire genetic code, to analyse MRSA bacteria taken from 12 babies.

The team was quickly able to confirm that 10 babies were part of an MRSA outbreak involving a previously unknown strain of the bug.

DNA sequencing showed it was caused by a strain carried to the ward by one of 154 health workers, who had been screened for MRSA.

"The staff member was decolonised and went back to work, and we believe this brought the outbreak to a close," said Dr Julian Parkhill, head of pathogen genomics at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, who worked on the research.

One in 100 people carry MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) without any health problems. However, can kill if it gets into wounds. It is spread by skin contact.

It is believed to be the first time DNA sequencing has been used to contain an infectious disease outbreak at a hospital.

A Health Protection Agency report in May said more than six per cent of hospital patients in England acquired some form of infection during their stay.

However, a survey found MRSA hospital infection rates had fallen significantly in recent years.

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Energy Firm SSE Defends 38% Profits Rise

The energy firm SSE has defended a 38% rise in half year profits at a time when its gas and electricity bills are rising by 9% on average.

The company, formerly known as Scottish & Southern Energy, made an adjusted profit before tax of £397.5m in the six months to September 30.

SSE's retail business, which supplies electricity and gas to homes and businesses, reported an operating profit of £75.7m for the first-half after posting an operating loss of £101.4m a year ago.

Lord Smith of Kelvin, the firm's chairman, said: "While some observers may choose to criticise SSE for making a profit and paying a dividend (of 25.2p per share - a rise of 5%) I believe that profit and dividend allow SSE to employ people, pay tax, provide services that customers need, make investments that keep the lights on and create jobs while providing an income return that shareholders like pension funds need."

In August SSE, which trades as Southern Electric, Swalec and Scottish Hydro and is the UK's second-largest generator of electricity, became the first of the so-called 'big six' energy firms to announce inflation-busting increases to household bills.

It blamed "sustained increases" in the cost of using the electricity and gas networks, costs associated with mandatory Government schemes and the price it had paid for energy in the wholesale markets for the 9% rise, which came into effect last month.

Wholesale gas charges had risen 14% year-on-year, the group said and its bill increase would add another £8.53 a month on to the typical monthly direct debit, dual fuel customer - taking the average annual bill to £1,274.

In its statement today SSE said that despite the rise its retail profit margin was just 1.5%.

"The prices achieved for generating electricity have been weak and higher gas and non-energy costs unfortunately had to be reflected in the increase in household energy prices."

Adam Scorer, Director of Policy and External Affairs at Consumer Focus, suggested energy firms only had themselves to blame for criticism of profits.

"The furore over wholesale costs, energy pricing and company profits has deepened consumer distrust in the energy industry.

"Energy companies need to make profit so they can invest in our energy infrastructure. But if confidence is to be rebuilt in this market, the information that all energy firms are required to provide must be fully transparent, comparable, and include profit and trading information from across the whole of their business."

SSE's share price opened up slightly when trading began on the FTSE 100.

At the same time, rival npower - another of the 'big six' confirmed an operating profit - a different measure to that of SSE - of £238m for its first nine months.

That represented a 2% fall on the same period last year, the company said.

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Tory MP 'Backed Rival In Anti-Wind Farm Plot'

The Tory MP running the party's by-election campaign in Corby has been secretly filmed apparently encouraging a rival to stand in the contest.

Chris Heaton-Harris was the subject of a sting by Greenpeace, who recorded him admitting he had wanted the anti-wind farm independent James Delingpole to join the race.

He said Mr Delingpole, a Daily Telegraph journalist and climate change sceptic, had put his name forward as part of a "plan" to "cause some hassle", according to the footage.

"Please don't tell anybody ever," he begged, believing he was speaking to the representative of a fictional lobbying group called Windefensible.

He was actually talking to undercover film-maker Chris Atkins, who made contact with him at the Tory Party conference last month.

The sting is embarrassing for the Tories, who are set to lose the by-election and are already at loggerheads with their Lib Dem coalition partners over energy policy.

In the film, Mr Heaton-Harris, said:  "There's a bit of strategy behind what's going on. I'm running the Corby by-election for the Tories... and Delingpole, who is my constituent, and a very good friend... put his head above the parapet but won't put his deposit down... It's just part of the plan."

There are coalition tensions over wind farm policy

In another section that is only partly audible, the MP for Daventry appears to admit that he "suggested" the move to his friend Mr Delingpole, conceding this was "awkward".

"Please don't tell anybody ever. But he will not be putting his deposit down. He just did it because it's a long campaign, it's six weeks to cause some hassle and get... people talking," he said.

Asked if he was trying to put the anti-wind farm campaign on the agenda, he replied: "Exactly. And it will go through way past the Corby by-election stuff. I'm trying to write it into the DNA of the Tory party."

Mr Delingpole did later pull out of the race, the day after the Tory Energy Minister John Hayes controversially declared "enough is enough" about the spread of wind farms.

Mr Atkins met Mr Heaton-Harris a second time, on that same day, according to The Guardian.

The MP confirmed Mr Delingpole was pulling out of the election - calling the timing "contrived" - and said he would now write in support of the Tories in The Telegraph.

Just 24 hours later, he did exactly that, praising Mr Hayes' comments. Mr Heaton-Harris said it would be a "nice piece for the boss to see".

After the sting was revealed, the MP denied supporting Mr Delingpole's candidacy because pulling out before submitting a deposit means he was never technically a runner.

"There was no conspiracy or 'conspiring with an opposition candidate'," he said.

James Delingpole praised comments by Energy Minister John Hayes

He later issued another statement on his website, saying: "The quotes attributed to me range from factually correct statements to me bragging about things beyond my control, which has so often before been the failing of politicians.

"The implication that I choreographed any sort of 'secret plan' is simply not the case and I apologise if that is the impression given.

"It can hardly be said that my wanting to 'put this on the agenda' is new. I have spent years fighting onshore wind, getting over 100 MPs to sign a letter to the Prime Minister, securing debates and raising questions in Parliament and touring the country speaking to anti-wind groups.

"It is a subject I am passionate about and will continue to work on until communities across my constituency, Northamptonshire and the country have the protection they deserve."

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Simon Hughes said: "Some Conservatives are clearly so hell-bent on disrupting the coalition's green agenda that they're prepared to stab their own candidates in the back to do it.

"The coalition's position on wind farms and green energy will not change because the Liberal Democrats will not let it. The Conservatives should be in no doubt: we will hold them to their promises on the environment."

Home Secretary Theresa May, campaigning in Corby on Thursday, said: "Chris has made clear - and I am saying today - that he has been guilty of some silly bragging.

"He's been a good campaign manager. He's been out campaigning hard, and will be campaigning hard today and tomorrow."

But Michael Dugher MP, Labour's shadow minister without portfolio, described the affair as "astonishing" and said: "This is yet more evidence of the Conservative Party in chaos."

The Corby contest was sparked when Tory Louise Mensch quit her job to move to the US with her family. Labour are expected to win the by-election comfortably.

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Treatment Of Schizophrenia Patients 'Shameful'

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

Standards of care in some mental health units are so poor that they make patients worse, not better, a new report claims.

An independent inquiry into schizophrenia describes the care given to some patients on secure wards as "shameful".

The Schizophrenia Commission found staff in some units are burnt out and demoralised, and are shut away in offices doing paperwork rather than talking to patients.

The commission's report, An Abandoned Illness, says patients are given drug treatments and then left to watch television, when they should be receiving psychological help, such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

On average a stay on an acute mental health unit costs more than £12,000.

Professor Robin Murray, who chaired the commission, said more money should instead be aimed at better - and cheaper - intervention in the early stages of illness, which can reduce the likelihood of patients deteriorating to the point that they need acute care.

"People are being badly let down by the system in every area of their lives," he said.

"People with psychosis need to be given the hope that it is perfectly possible to live a fulfilling life after diagnosis.

"We have no doubt that this is achievable."

Schizophrenia affects more than 220,000 people in England alone. One in six people will have symptoms of psychosis, such as hallucinations, at some stage of their lives.

The Commission calls for clearer warnings on the use of cannabis, to reduce the risk of schizophrenia.

It also says psychiatrists should improve their prescribing to ensure patients are on effective treatment with the minimum of side effects.

Laura Sherlock used to be a professional trombone player and toured the world, despite suffering delusions and feeling suicidal.

She was put on anti-psychotic treatment that left her unable to play music.

"I felt numb, deathly tired and barely able to move or think," she said.

"When I stopped taking my tablets I was given medication by injections - I had no say in my own treatment."

Paul Jenkins, of the charity Rethink Mental Illness, said: "It is a scandal that in 2012 people with schizophrenia are dying 15 to 20 years earlier than the general population and that only 7% are able to get a job.

"Too many people are falling through the gaps in the system and ending up in prison or homeless."

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April Jones: Police Stop Searching River

Police looking for missing five-year-old April Jones have switched the focus of their search to a forest, the police officer in charge of the operation has said.

Superintendent Ian John, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said officers had stopped combing the river, which had previously been at the centre of the search, and were instead looking at the land around it.

He said they still had 150 officers working on finding April at any one time in a continued effort to find her, more than six weeks after she went missing.

April was last seen on October 1, getting into a vehicle after playing near her home on the Bryn y Gog estate in the town of Machynlleth, Powys.

Her disappearance sparked the biggest search operation ever undertaken by the Dyfed-Powys Police force, covering 23 square miles.

Seventeen specialist teams continue to work on the case and are investigating all lines of enquiry.

Officers and coastguards had concentrated their efforts on the River Dyfi but are now focusing on the 6,000 hectares of surrounding forest land.

Search teams scouring the River Dyfi

Supt John said: "We've still got a number of search areas to investigate, but at the moment teams are primarily working in the Dyfi Forest.

"We are not searching the river actively now. The coastguard have stopped doing that, they have adequately searched the water as much as they can.

"Instead, it's primarily the woodland areas, the old slate quarries and the fields which are the main focus of the operation now."

Hundreds of members of the public joined in the search for April and they continue to raise money to help fund the search.

Supt John said: "I can't truly express how hard going the work is, the guys have been out there in the pouring rain day after day and still they continue.

"We are not searching weekends anymore because they officers all need to rest, but we are still working at an intensive level."

Mark Bridger, 46, a former abattoir worker, has been charged with April's murder and is due to appear in court on January 11.

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Club Drugs: Health Warning As Use Increases

By Niall Paterson, Sky News Correspondent

The number of people seeking treatment for their use of so-called "club drugs" is on the rise, according to new research.

The report, "Club Drugs – Emerging Trends And Risks", from the National Treatment Agency for Substance Abuse (NTA) - says that last year 6,486 people sought treatment – up from 4,656 in 2005-6.

Paul Hayes, the chief executive of the NTA, said: "It is clear that some club drug users are developing serious health problems and even dependency.

"While drug use overall is falling, there is an increase in the number of people turning to treatment for club drugs. The numbers remain small compared to heroin and crack addiction, but services need to be geared up to meet these emerging needs.

"For those who do seek treatment, they stand a very good chance of overcoming their problems. Many have personal support and resources that put them in a good position to recover. We would encourage anyone who is developing a problem to seek help."

Club drugs include ketamine, methamphetamine, GBL, GNH, ecstasy and mephedrone.

While the number of people seeking treatment for such drugs is small compared to heroin and crack cocaine, experts warn that abuse of club drugs could lead to significant health problems, or even dependency.

Psychiatrist Owen Bowden Jones of the club drug clinic at Chelsea and Westminster hospital said "This group of substances can result in harmful effects such as bladder damage and psychosis.

"However, treatment can be very effective and we have seen some excellent results, with people overcoming a range of complicated physical and psychological problems.

"While overall the drug treatment system has made tremendous gains in recent years, particularly in tackling heroin and crack, newer club drug use is a significant challenge and we are still learning the full extent of the resulting harms.

"It is important that investment in services is maintained so that appropriate support is available for those who need it."

The report noted that ecstasy remains the most commonly treated club drug – although the number of new adults entering treatment had halved since 2005-6.

Both ketamine and mephedrone are becoming increasingly popular with clubbers.

However, the report also found that club drug users do well when they seek treatment. Last year 61% of adults who left treatment for club drug use did so having completed their programme successfully.

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Baby Died After 'Serious Failures' At Hospital

By Lisa Dowd, Midlands Correspondent

A baby died at Birmingham Children's Hospital after "serious failures", a coroner has ruled.

Hayley Fullerton suffered heart failure following corrective surgery in November 2009, one month after her first birthday.

Recording a narrative verdict following an inquest into Hayley's death, Aidan Cotter, coroner for Birmingham and Solihull, said: "The failures by a number of the staff at Birmingham Children's Hospital were serious but not gross."

He said he could only make a finding of neglect if there had been a "gross" failure to provide medical attention .

Paula Stevenson holding her daughter Hayley.

Following the verdict, Hayley's mother, Paula Stevenson, said that she planned to sue the NHS over her daughter's "preventable and predictable" death. 

She said: "Today is Hayley's day - I have been waiting three years to speak up.

"Hayley died like an abandoned animal - nobody listened to me while Hayley was dying and nobody listened to me when Hayley was dead."

Ms Stevenson, who flew to the UK from Australia to attend today's hearing with Hayley's father Bobby Fullerton, added: "Our entire family has been completely devastated by what happened and to this day we continue to grieve for Hayley.

"I still cannot understand how trained medics could ignore the fact that she was slowly deteriorating before their eyes.

"They had seven days to spot that something was seriously wrong but all those precious opportunities were missed."

Hayley was born with a condition that restricted blood getting from her heart to her lungs.

After an operation at another hospital, she was sent to Birmingham for corrective heart surgery.

Hayley Fullerton suffered a collapsed lung after heart surgery.

The operation was a success, but complications set in when Hayley's right lung collapsed.

Ms Stevenson, told the coroner's court earlier this year: "I was hoping she would be put in intensive care.

"I was waiting and waiting for someone to come so I was very aware and alert. I was telling her sorry I could not get help."

She also claimed that her child had been failed "abominably" and said her experience at the hands of some staff has been "brutal".

Ms Stevenson, who is originally from Northern Ireland but now lives in Australia, went on to allege that she gave a nurse a £100 gift voucher in an effort to secure better care for Hayley.

"I truly believe if the medical teams had listened to me and my parents, Hayley would still be alive today. They turned their back on her. She was overlooked and neglected," she said.

In an internal review of Hayley's death, the NHS found that a "hierarchy" among medics deterred junior staff from referring Hayley back to a paediatric intensive care unit in the days before her death on November 11.

In a statement issued after the coroner's verdict, the Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: "When Hayley died we recognised that some of her care fell below our usual high standards and for this we offer a heartfelt apology for the distress that has been caused.

"We've taken all the steps possible to learn from this."

Ms Stevenson has now set up a website, heal-trust.org, which campaigns for the NHS to use Rapid Response Teams, which families, friends or patients can call if they feel their concerns over treatment aren't being heeded.

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Woman 'Refused' Abortion In Ireland Dies

By David Blevins, Ireland Correspondent

Investigations have been launched after a pregnant woman died in hospital in Ireland after allegedly being refused an abortion.

Savita Halappanavar, 31, suffered a miscarriage and septicaemia. Her husband Praveen claims doctors refused to carry out a termination for religious reasons.

Mrs Halappanavar, who was from India, was 17 weeks pregnant when admitted to Galway University Hospital.

She was suffering from agonising pain and, according to her husband, made several requests for an abortion.

Mr Halappanavar, 34, said doctors had refused to terminate the pregnancy because there was a foetal heartbeat and told his wife: "This is a Catholic country."

The young woman, who had been practising as a dentist in the Republic of Ireland for some time, died on October 28 after developing septicaemia - an infection in the blood.

Her death is expected to spark a backlash against the Irish government, criticised by left-wing members of parliament for failing to introduce new laws to permit abortion in life-threatening circumstances.

Clare Daly, a Socialist Party member of parliament, said: "A woman has died because Galway University Hospital refused to perform an abortion needed to prevent serious risk to her life.

"We were told this situation would never arise. An unviable foetus - she was having a miscarriage - was given priority over the woman, who unfortunately and predictably, developed septicaemia and died."

Galway Roscommon University Hospitals Group and the state's health officials have launched an investigation.

The family will be interviewed as part of that review and results are expected within three months.

The Galway hospital said doctors have carried out all standard practices in notifying the death to the coroner, informing the Health Service Executive and completing a maternal death notification.

"It is standard practice to review unexpected deaths in line with the HSE's national incident management policy," it said.

"The family of the deceased is consulted on the terms of reference, interviewed by the review team and given a copy of the final report."

A spokesman added: "The Galway Roscommon University Hospitals Group wishes to extend its sympathy to the husband, family and friends of Ms Halappanavar."

The Department of Health also expressed its condolences but said it would wait for the two investigations to be completed before commenting further.

Abortion remains illegal in the Republic unless it occurs as the result of medical intervention to save the mother's life.

There is, however, no agreed method for determining such circumstances.

Abortion is legal in Northern Ireland but only if there is an immediate threat to the mother's life or a long-term threat to her physical or mental health.

The first private abortion clinic on the island opened in Belfast last month.

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