Prince Harry: Afghan Warlord's Claims 'Absurd'

The Ministry of Defence has rejected claims by a warlord that Prince Harry "kills innocent Afghans while he is drunk" as "simply absurd".

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a former Afghan prime minister who leads the militant group Hizb-i-Islami, also claimed that foreign forces in the country have failed.

He told the Daily Telegraph that Prince Harry, who has been serving in Afghanistan since September as an Apache helicopter co-pilot, was a "jackal" who was drunk on duty.

"The British prince comes to Afghanistan to kill innocent Afghans while he is drunk," said Hekmatyar, who has been in hiding since the mid-1990s.

"He wants to hunt down Mujahideen with his helicopter's rockets, without any shame.

"During the Mujahideen's attack on the American base the prince saw that he was the one about to be hunted and was searching for a hole in which to hide himself."

Hekmatyar is considered a terrorist by the US

The Ministry of Defence said it was "simply absurd" to suggest that the third-in-line to the throne or any other member of the British armed forces was conducting operations under the influence of alcohol.

"The consumption of alcohol by UK military personnel is not permitted under any circumstances while deployed in Afghanistan," a ministry spokesman said.

A military source also dismissed Hekmatyar's comments, saying: "The idea that highly skilled and professional Apache pilots operate drunk is patently ridiculous and completely made up.

"It is nothing more than a see-through attempt to undermine the very real progress being made in Afghanistan by UK troops and their Afghan partners."

Hekmatyar founded Hizb-i-Islami, notorious for its bloody siege of Kabul in the 1990s, and is considered a terrorist by the US.

Prince Harry has been in Afghanistan since September

In the interview, Hekmatyar also accused Britain of being dragged into the war to please its American allies and said its role in the conflict would have no significance after 2014.

"Britain dragged herself into this unjustified, useless but cruel conflict to please the White House," he said.

"The British did not gain anything, instead they lost blood and treasure. They never had a positive role in Afghan affairs and they will not have any significance after 2014.

"I don't understand how the British public accept their children being sent to certain death in order to please American generals."

The interview comes just weeks after UK Prime Minister David Cameron signalled that British troops could be withdrawn from Afghanistan even faster after better-than-expected progress by the country's own security forces.

But Hekmatyar said: "The fact is that the government has failed. The authorities have lost their credibility completely. They have fallen victims to severe internal disputes and seem hopeless and worried.

"We might have a dreadful situation after 2014 which no one could have anticipated."

The Nato coalition has been fighting the Taliban insurgency for 11 years

The MoD spokesman said: "UK troops deployed and remain in Afghanistan to protect our national security by removing what was a safe haven for international terrorism.

"Now, it is Afghan forces that now have lead security responsibility for around 75% of the population in the country and lead up to 80% of conventional partnered operations.

"It is this sort of progress that has allowed almost 60% of UK bases in Helmand to be shut or handed over and will allow us to leave a stronger more secure Afghanistan when combat operations cease by the end of 2014."

Hekmatyar's Hizb-i-Islami, which means Islamic Party, has widespread national support in Afghanistan and shares some of the Afghan Taliban's anti-foreigner, anti-government aims, and wants to oust international forces.

The US State Department has listed Hekmatyar as a "terrorist" since 2003 for supporting Taliban and al Qaeda attacks.

Hekmatyar is a fierce rival of Taliban leader Mullah Omar, and became a hero to many Afghans while leading mujahideen fighters against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s.

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Seal Swims Miles Inland Through Flood Waters

A seal has ended up in a lake miles from the sea after swimming through flooded fields.

The animal was filmed climbing over a flood defence next to the RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes near St Ives in Cambridgeshire.

It is seen battling against the flow of water coming over the barrier before finally crossing it and swimming away.

It is believed the seal may have ended up in the area after swimming up the River Great Ouse and crossing flooded land near the lakes.

The seal was spotted miles from the coast in Cambridgeshire

RSPB member Robjn, who filmed the creature, said: "At first sight in the water I thought it was a dog in trouble but as it came up for air I could see it was a seal.

"It was swimming up a ditch that links to the Great Ouse. In the video it is swimming from the ditch and up into the flooded field."

Seals have been known to enter the Great Ouse near King's Lynn in Norfolk.

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Missing Katrice Lee's Mum 'Harassed' On Facebook

By Gerard Tubb, North of England Correspondent

A woman has been charged with harassing the mother of toddler Katrice Lee, who disappeared on a shopping trip in Germany more than 31 years ago.

Donna Wright, 33, from Spennymoor, County Durham, is accused of sending emails and Facebook messages to Sharon Lee, who is campaigning to have her daughter's disappearance reinvestigated.

Katrice went missing in 1981 on her second birthday as her mother and aunt were food shopping at the NAAFI store on a British army base in Paderborn where her father Richard, from Hartlepool, was stationed.

Mrs Lee believes Katrice is still alive and marched to Downing Street two months ago on the anniversary of her disappearance demanding action.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court heard that Miss Wright, who did not appear, has been bailed for two weeks on condition she does not contact any member of the Lee family.

The case was adjourned until January 16.

Last month the Crown Prosecution Service launched a public consultation on prosecutions involving social media following a number of high profile cases.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, also published interim guidelines which he said were intended to "strike the balance between freedom of expression and the need to uphold the criminal law".

An image of how Katrice could look now, aged 33, has been created by a charity which helps find missing people.

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Rail Fares: Anger As Commuters Face More Hikes

How Much Will Your Ticket Cost?

Updated: 2:14am UK, Wednesday 02 January 2013

This is a table of rail fare rises, comparing the price of a 12-month season ticket bought in December with one bought from January 2.

The table does not include the price paid if within-London travelcards are also purchased for Tube and bus journeys in the capital.

Where London is mentioned, this means travel to London terminal stations where travel is allowed by any route option shown by the National Rail Enquiry system, Journey Planner, where the journey can be made using only one ticket.

ROUTE                          DEC 2012  JAN 2013  % RISE

Leeds-Wakefield              £908      £964            6.16%

Bishop's Stortford-London  £3,560    £3,704     4.04%

Portsmouth Harbour-London  £4,480    £4,668  4.19%

Basingstoke-London         £3,800    £3,960       4.21%

Ramsgate-London            £4,640    £4,864     4.82%

Woking-London              £2,780    £2,896        4.17%

Folkestone-London          £4,612    £4,836      4.85%

Reading-London             £3,800    £3,960       4.21%

Sevenoaks-London           £2,980    £3,112    4.43%

Aylesbury-London           £3,520    £3,632      3.18%

Bedford-London             £4,004    £4,172      4.19%

Hastings-London            £4,400    £4,584     4.18%

Canterbury-London          £4,588    £4,812    4.80%

Deal-London                £4,640    £4,864    4.82%

Dover Priory-London        £4,640    £4,864    4.82%

Ludlow-Hereford            £1,892    £1,992    5.28%

Bangor-Llandudno           £1,084    £1,140    5.16%

Morpeth-Newcastle            £960    £1,008    5%

West Malling-London        £3,712    £3,876    4.42%

Guildford-London           £3,092    £3,224    4.27%

Bracknell-London           £3,800    £3,960    4.21%

Braintree-London           £3,960    £4,124    4.14%

Tunbridge Wells-London     £3,968    £4,132    4.13%

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A Little Extra Weight May Not Be All Bad News

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

Being a few pounds overweight could extend life - and not shorten it, according to new research.

The findings will be greeted with relief by those who have indulged over the Christmas period. And they confound the widely-held medical belief that being overweight leads to an early grave.

US researchers analysed 97 studies involving nearly three million people, and found those classified as overweight were 6% less likely to die prematurely than those deemed to have a "healthy" weight.

They used the body mass index (BMI), which relates weight to height, to classify people into "recommended weight" (BMI 18.5-25), overweight (25-30), or obese (over 30).

Katherine Flegal, a statistician at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said the lower risk of death in overweight people was consistent in the studies she looked at.

"Sometimes that surprises people but they really should not be too surprised, because in our categories of these 97 studies 80% of them showed that there was lower mortality in overweight than normal weight people," she said.

While a few extra pounds may not harm you, obesity will do, say experts

Body weight only increased the risk of death when people passed a BMI of 35. At this point - morbid obesity - the risk increased by 29%, according to results published in the medical journal Jama. 

The researchers only looked at mortality. Other studies have shown that overweight people are more likely to suffer from diabetes, heart disease and kidney problems.

Dr Flegal said better medical treatment may keep overweight people alive for longer. Alternatively, moderate amounts of body fat could protect the heart, she added.

But Tam Fry of the National Obesity Forum said it would be "catastrophic" if people use the research as an excuse to overindulge.

"The real fear is that people will take this to mean they can eat what they like," he said.

"If you are old, having a bit of extra weight can protect the body during periods of illness, and so on.

"But being obese is just as serious as it has always been. This research should not be a passport to cancelling the gym membership and eating black forest gateau."

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Police Hunt Schoolboy After Phone Stabbing

By Martin Brunt, Crime Correspondent

Detectives are still trying to find a schoolboy wanted after the murder of another youth in a row over a mobile phone.

Police want to interview 15-year-old Dawda Jallow who has been missing since the stabbing on Sunday afternoon.

The victim, Dogan Ismail, 17, died from a single stab wound after a confrontation with four males on the Aylesbury estate in Walworth, South East London.

It is believed he and his elder brother were chased up a walkway before a mobile phone was stolen.

Police have appealed for help in finding Dawda and warned the public not to approach him.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Bonner said: "I am seeking help from the local community to locate Dawda Jallow.

"I appeal to anyone who knows of his whereabouts, or has any information that could assist us, to come forward.

"If Dawda is seen, please do not approach him but contact police."

DCI Bonner added: "I appeal direct to Dawda to present himself at a police station so this matter can be dealt with."

A small part of a first-floor landing in the estate's Latimer House block was cordoned off. Flowers had been laid there.

A few feet away were flowers left for another murder victim, Shaun Chambers, 21, who died at almost the same spot in a gangland attack in September.

Police say they believe the two attacks are not linked in any way.

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Thailand Killing: Victim's Family Speak Out

The family of Stephen Ashton, who was shot dead at a New Year's Eve party in Thailand, have said they are "completely devastated by the loss of Stephen from our lives".

The suspect has been seen with police at the beach bar

He was an innocent bystander simply enjoying New Year celebrations, they said.

Mr Ashton, 22, from Purley, South London, was caught in the crossfire during a fight between rival gangs.

He is said to have been killed by a stray bullet as he danced with friends at a beach bar on the paradise island of Koh Phangan.

Police Colonel Kittakarn Kramomthong, chief of police at the island's station, said officers had arrested a 26-year-old Thai man and confiscated a gun.

The man is expected to be charged with manslaughter, he said.

The suspect has reportedly confessed to killing the Briton.

Mr Ashton was shot with a homemade gun (Photo: Facebook)

Mr Ashton's family have travelled to Thailand and were on the way to Koh Phangan to identify his body formally and make arrangements for his repatriation.

British ambassador to Thailand, Mark Kent, is expected to visit the scene on Thursday.

He warned of risks to Western tourists, and urged people to read the travel advice on the Foreign Office website.

"Most people have a very enjoyable holiday, a very trouble-free holiday," he told Sky News. "But there are risks and we've set these out in our travel advice which you can access on the Foreign Office website.

"In particular we do mention that there have been incidents involving Western tourists in Koh Phangan, so there are risks in going anywhere and I think Thailand is certainly not completely trouble free."

Thai police said Mr Ashton was with a group of friends and 300 other tourists celebrating the countdown to 2013 at a pub and restaurant called the Zoom Bar when he was shot by a home-made gun at Haad Rin beach shortly after 4am on Tuesday.

Koh Phangan is in the south of Thailand

In a statement issued by the Foreign Office, the family said: "As a family we are completely devastated by the loss of Stephen from our lives.

"He has been taken away from us in such cruel and tragic circumstances in which he was an innocent bystander simply enjoying New Year celebrations.

"We are comforted in the thought that he was having a fantastic time with friends after such a difficult period following the loss of his much loved dad who passed away from a brain tumour in 2011 and the loss of his granddad a few months earlier.

Friends paid tribute to Mr Ashton (Photo: Facebook)

"We were all so proud of him; he was a much loved son, brother, grandson and nephew.

"He will be truly missed by his family but also by the many friends he made during his life. We cannot comprehend how someone can carry out such a reckless act, giving such little value to human life.

"We ask that our privacy be respected to allow us to grieve."

Friends expressed their shock at Mr Ashton's death and paid tribute to him on social networking sites.

Robbie-Cameron Gray took to Mr Ashton's Facebook page to express his grief and posted a photograph of the two of them as young boys.

He said: "Don't want to believe it. Still got photos of us on my wall from football and school. Will miss you mate."

Aaron Kelly wrote on Facebook: "Horrible news. Be good up there mate."

Neighbour Dawn Mason, 48, described Mr Ashton as a "very normal, likeable young man".

His family moved to the upmarket area of Purley, south London, about three years ago, she said.

"They've always been very nice neighbours. If Stephen or his sister Emily had parties, they'd always be at the house with their parents so they knew where they were. I went to the house today and the family just seem in complete shock."

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British Aid 'Funding Iranian Executions'

British taxpayers have effectively funded executions in Iran by providing £3.6m in aid to the country, according to human rights campaigners.

The money has been used to fight the flow of drugs into Europe, with Iran historically the leading recipient of UK anti-drugs assistance.

Prisoners' rights charity Reprieve claims recent spending has coincided with a jump in the number of executions for drug crime.

Its investigator Maya Foa said: "It's outrageous that Britain, which is supposed to be committed to the abolition of capital punishment, should in fact be funding executions for drug offences in Iran."

Most of the aid given to the Islamic state by international governments if focused on helping its anti-narcotics police (ANP).

But the success of the authorities is measured by the number of arrests, which will "very likely" lead to executions, Reprieve said.

More than 1,200 people were executed for drugs offences in Iran between 2007 and 2011 and the proportion of total executions for drug crime rose from 28% to 82% in that time.

The report comes shortly after David Cameron defended the ring-fencing of the international aid budget, insisting Britain has a "moral obligation" to the poorest parts of the world.

Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Ms Foa said that "given the country's appalling record on human rights", there was real concern over how equipment and support provided by Britain to Iran is being used.

She said: "Hundreds are being hanged every year, including children, vulnerable people and innocent scapegoats; that Britain should have played a part in this tragedy is shameful."

Iran is a major transit route for drugs smuggled from Afghanistan through Pakistan to the Persian Gulf, Turkey, Russia and Europe.

The country, led by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is frequently reported as having the largest seizures of opiates - such as morphine - in the world.

It claims to have invested more than $1bn (£613m) in an elaborate series of earthworks, forts and deep trenches to channel potential drug smugglers to areas where they can be confronted by security forces.

Iran executes more people per head than any other country, with 12,000 estimated to have been executed for drug offences since 1979.

The UK jointly funded a project to promote intelligence-led investigation in Iran between 2010 and 2011, which led to the seizure of 23,633kg of opium, 1,490kg of heroin, 3,033kg of cannabis, 425kg of morphine and 110kg of crystal meth.

The £750,000 initiative coincided with the sharp increase in executions for drug offences, Reprieve said.

Another jointly-funded project, between 2007 and 2010, saw £117,000 spent on motorcycles, along with X-ray body scanners and mobile and satellite communications.

The Foreign Office said the UK has funded no United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) programmes in Iran since 2007.

A spokesman said: "We continue to raise with the UNODC, and other UN bodies, the need to ensure that counter-narcotics projects are compliant with international human rights and we have supported the publication of human rights guidelines for UNODC projects.

"The British Government takes human rights very seriously and strongly opposes the use of the death penalty in all circumstances, including for drugs offences. We regularly condemn Iran on its abhorrent use of the death penalty."

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Two Men Held In Jimmy Savile Abuse Probe

Two men have been arrested by detectives investigating the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal.

A 53-year-old was held in Hampshire at around 8am and a 59-year-old in west London at around midday, both on suspicion of sexual offences.

The allegations are not directly linked to Savile, the Metropolitan Police said.

Scotland Yard is leading a national investigation into allegations against disgraced television presenter Savile and a number of other high-profile figures.

They have separated the inquiry into three strands: claims against Savile, those involving Savile and others, and those involving others. The latest arrests fall under the "others" strand.

So far, officers have questioned 10 people including former pop star Gary Glitter, comedian Freddie Starr and PR guru Max Clifford.

Last month police said a total of 31 allegations of rape had been made against former Top Of The Pops presenter Savile, who died in October 2011.

Some 589 people have come forward with information relating to the scandal, with a total of 450 complaints against the BBC presenter and DJ, mainly alleging sexual abuse.

Detectives have recorded 199 crimes in 17 force areas in which Savile is a suspect.

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Skyfall High In Annual List Of Movie Gaffes

The latest James Bond movie, Skyfall, may be the most successful film in British box office history - but it is strewn with errors.

It had the second highest number of mistakes in 2012, according to an online list of movie gaffes spotted by filmgoers.

Second only to Men In Black III, with 63 mistakes spotted, Skyfall comes in with 35, www.moviemistakes.com says.

Among the mistakes listed are:

:: Where Bond is fighting on top of the train ... his footwear changes from black lace up shoes to black slip-on ankle boots.

:: Just before Bond reaches the chapel, he plunges into icy water. In the next scene, in the chapel, he is perfectly dry.

:: In the Istanbul chase scene, Eve knocks out the windshield of the car she's driving ... For the rest of the chase, about half the glass is suddenly back in the frame.

::  In the chase through the tube station, Bond and Silva both slide down between the escalators. On the London Underground this area has hard vertical signs at regular intervals, precisely to prevent people sliding down.

:: When on the motorbike on the rooftops of Istanbul, Bond at first has no sunglasses on, then sunglasses on, then no sunglasses.

Men In Black lll stars Will Smith, seen here at the London premiere

The 23rd official Bond film became the first movie ever to take £100m at the British box office at the weekend.

It had already become the highest grossing film in the UK, raking in £94.3m in 40 days, according to the producers.

Globally, the film, which marks the 50th anniversary of the franchise and cost £100m to make, has taken more than $1bn (£613m).

Daniel Craig's third appearance as British secret agent Bond is still on general release more than two months after it first hit British cinemas.

The movie sees Bond battling with villain Raoul Silva (played by Javier Bardem), who aims to take revenge on his former boss M (Judi Dench).

Moviemistakes.com's 2012 top ten reported errors:

1.  Men in Black III - 63

2.  Skyfall - 35

3.  The Dark Knight Rises - 24

4.  The Amazing Spider-Man - 24

5.  Marvel Avengers Assemble - 22

6.  Looper - 14

7.  Prometheus - 13

8.  Argo - 13

9.  Underworld: Awakening - 10

10.  The Hunger Games - 10

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