Royal Mail And Union Reach Deal On Pay

A proposed deal has been agreed between the Royal Mail and union leaders on pay, pensions and other issues linked to the privatisation of the postal group.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) had been threatening industrial action in the run up to Christmas but held off calling strikes so talks could be held.

After what were described as "extensive" negotiations, the two sides announced that a proposed agreement had been reached.

A union statement said: "The proposed agreement will now be considered by the union's postal executive over the next few days and will ultimately be subject to a ballot of the union's members.

Staff had backed the prospect of strikes pending the outcome of the talks

"During the ratification process, the industrial action ballot remains valid.

"Details of the proposed agreement will be made available following the conclusion of the meeting of the union's postal executive."

In a statement to the stock market, Royal Mail said an agreement had been made in principle with the CWU on pay, legal protections, industrial stability and pensions.

"Royal Mail and the CWU have agreed that the union's ballot for industrial action remains valid.

"However, the CWU has confirmed that there will be no disruption through industrial action during the ratification process of the proposed agreement, including the whole of the Christmas trading period.

"An announcement on the content of the proposed agreement will be made when it is ratified by the union's executive committee.

"The proposed agreement is also subject to approval by the Royal Mail plc board."

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Nigella Lawson Aides Fraud Trial: Live Updates

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4:00pm UK, Wednesday 04 December 2013

Nigella Lawson arrives at Isleworth Crown Court in west London

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Girl, 15, Held Over Stabbing Death Of Teenager

A teenage girl is being held in connection with the murder of a 17-year-old boy in north London in the early hours of Tuesday.

Joshua Folkes, known to friends as Money J, was stabbed to death outside a friend's home in Palmers Green.

The 15-year-old girl was arrested in the Enfield area on Wednesday and is being held in custody.

Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Wall, the officer in charge of the case, said: "We are appealing to the local community about the murder of a boy who was loved by his family."

"His death has left them devastated. We are appealing to Josh's friends and the community to come forward and help us find his killers.

"Someone out there must know who is responsible for this murder."

Friends lay flowers at the scene of Joshua's death

Close friends of Joshua's left tributes at the site of his stabbing.

Azra Valentino, 18, said: "He wasn't meant to go like this. We're all just shocked. When I see this, I can't believe it really. I'm just shaken up. I don't know what to do.

"Josh was the last person who you'd think would be on the news for a death or something, he wasn't like that. He got caught up in it."

Forensic scientists working onthe crime scene

Another of Joshua's closest friends, who did not want to be named, laid a pair of trainers and a jumper he had owned among the cards and flowers left at the scene.

"I ain't feeling good at all, I ain't feeling good at all," he said. "He was my best friend. He got stabbed. He lived with me here a little bit, he stayed with me here a couple of times."

The distraught friend described Joshua as "a good youth at heart" who loved music, particularly rapping.

"This made me realise what life is seriously really about," he said.

"I lost someone close to me. He had a lot of friends around here. Josh has got a lot of friends, this is what people don't know."

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Schizophrenic Jailed For Beheading Flatmate

A paranoid schizophrenic who killed his flatmate and cut off his head after suffering from delusions he was being persecuted has been jailed for life.

Karl Addo, found by several doctors to be borderline insane, will serve a minimum of six and half years for the killing of Sergio Marquez and may never be released from Broadmoor because he is so ill.

Karl Addo admitted manslaughter

The headless body of Mr Marquez, who was decapitated and disembowled after he died, was found by other flatmates who ran screaming from the address.

Years of mental illness led Addo to believe that he was being assaulted by gangs with special powers and been injected with drugs.

He believed that Spanish waiter Mr Marquez, 23, was part of a gang and that he wanted to kill and torture him.

The 30-year-old engineering graduate snapped on July 17 last year - the day his landlord told him to leave the flat the pair shared in Bournemouth, Dorset, because he had not paid his rent.

He hit Mr Marquez with a cleaver and stabbed him in what was a "prolonged horrific and very violent attack and his body was terribly mutilated," Nigel Pascoe QC, prosecuting told Bournemouth Crown Court.

A neighbour heard some of the attack and Mr Marquez saying "please Karl, please Karl", furniture being dragged around and then Addo laugh, Mr Pascoe said.

Police officers arrested Addo nearby covered in blood, the court was told. He had fled the flat when the others had returned.

Sergio Marquez's body was discovered by his other flatmates

Sentencing Addo, Mr Justice Burnett told him it was common ground that he was dangerous and also imposed an indefinite restriction under the Mental Health Act, explaining that he would "not be released unless the relevant authorities conclude that is it safe to do so".

"Given all that I have heard, you must recognise that there is a real possibility that such a conclusion will never be reached," he said.

Flatmates told police that Addo had been acting strangely, that he used to steal food from them and had used book pages as toilet paper, the court heard.

Addo, who was born in the UK but had also lived in the US, absconded from the Huntley Mental Health Centre in London where he was a voluntary patient the day before a mental health tribunal in October 2011 decided he should be sectioned.

He then "disappeared" from mental health services before he moved to Bournemouth in May 2012.

Addo, of no fixed abode pleaded not guilty to murder on Monday but guilty to manslaughter through diminished responsibility.

Mr Marquez, originally from Sain, had come to England to find work

The prosecution said the plea was acceptable because Addo had been severely mentally ill when he killed Mr Marquez, who lived in Coin near Malaga in Spain and had come to England to find work.

Speaking after the case, Mr Marquez's mother Maria Carmen Marquez Torres said: "Sergio was a kind, good hearted and beautiful man who touched the lives of everyone who met him.

"I have lost my son and the world has lost a wonderful man.

"I believe that I have received justice for me and for Sergio.

"No sentence would ever be sufficient and nothing will ever compensate me for he loss of my son, but I find comfort in the fact that Mr Addo will not have his freedom for a long time and inflict this pain on any other family."

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Terror Asbos For Extremists Under PM Plans

Asbos for terrorists and extremists could be introduced under new proposals from a task force set up by the Prime Minister.

The Terror and Extremist Behaviour Order (Tebo) would mean civil authorities could take action against people seeking to radicalise others, in a similar way to the existing Anti-Social Behaviour Orders.

The measures were unveiled by David Cameron during his trip to China.

He said: "This summer we saw events that shocked the nation with the horrific killing of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich and murder of Mohammed Saleem in Birmingham.

"These tragedies were a wake-up call for Government and wider society to take action to confront extremism in all its forms, whether in our communities, schools, prisons, Islamic centres or universities.

"I have been absolutely clear that this is not something we should be afraid to address for fear of cultural sensitivities. We have already put in place some of the toughest terrorism prevention controls in the democratic world, but we must work harder to defeat the radical views which lead some people to embrace violence."

The taskforce report sets out officially for the first time a definition of Islamist radicalism, making clear that it is a distinct ideology which should not be confused with traditional religious practice.

Other measures include internet filters to block extremist websites and new powers to deal with groups which raise funds for terrorist purposes or spread extremist messages under the guise of charities.

The task force, led by Home Secretary Theresa May, makes clear that the problem that must be dealt with is not simply violent extremism itself, but activities which radicalise others in a way which might lead them into extremist action.

Mr Cameron said he wanted to see "an end to hate preaching in Britain" and said he would ensure the recommendations of the report were implemented.

He said: "There are just too many people who have been radicalised in Islamic centres, who have been in contact with extremist preachers, who have accessed radicalising information on the internet and haven't been sufficiently challenged. I want to make sure in our country that we do this effectively."

The task force has also suggested more support needs to be given to communities where extremism is a particular problem and making it easier for people to report extremist content online.

In addition it suggests monitoring prisoners who have shown extremist views of behaviour while in prison.

The report defines Islamist extremism as "a distinct ideology which should not be confused with traditional religious practice (and)... is based on a distorted interpretation of Islam, which betrays Islam's peaceful principles".

Islamist extremists describe Western intervention in Muslim countries as a "war on Islam" and seek to impose a global Islamic state under Sharia law, says the report.

It adds: "Their ideology also includes the uncompromising belief that people cannot be Muslim and British, and insists that those who do not agree with them are not true Muslims."

Mr Cameron said that the task force had also looked at Islamophobic extremism, such as the murder of 82-year-old Mohammed Saleem, who was stabbed to death by a Ukrainian student as he walked home from a mosque earlier this year.

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Soldier Held After Nail Bomb Found In Salford

A 19-year-old soldier has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences after a nail bomb was found at a house.

The man was detained at an army base in Paderborn, Germany, following the discovery of the suspicious device at a terraced house in Salford.

It is understood the soldier was detained by the Royal Military Police on suspicion of the unlawful possession of explosives, firearms and ammunition.

He was flown to the UK and questioned by detectives in Greater Manchester and has been released on bail until January pending further inquiries.

The nail bomb was discovered after a warrant was executed at an address on Mellor Street in Patricroft on November 28 at 1.30pm.

The nail bomb was found at an address in the Patricroft area of Salford

Residents were evacuated to a local school as army bomb disposal officers were called to safely remove the device from the property.

A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of abusive images.

Police revealed they recovered "several items of literature which could be viewed by some as potentially inflammatory".

These are understood to be extreme right-wing leaflets, according to Sky sources.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said the soldier was arrested on Monday night on suspicion of Section 57 of the Terrorism Act.

On the discovery of the nail bomb, he added: "During a search of the property on Mellor Street, a suspicious device was found.

"A cordon was put in place and a number of residents were evacuated as a precautionary measure.

"Specialist officers assessed the device and were later able to confirm it was no longer a threat to the community."

The Royal Military Police are said to be working closely with Greater Manchester Police as part of the investigation.

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Man Arrested After Police Officer Shot In Leeds

Police have arrested a man in connection with the shooting of a female police officer in Leeds.

A major police manhunt for James Leslie was launched following the attack which took place shortly after 4am in Cardigan Road in the city's Hyde Park district.

A weapon is recovered by officers near a car

West Yorkshire Police said two uniformed officers attended a "routine call" to a disturbance and were confronted by a man at the address who fired at them.

The female officer received "serious" but non life threatening injuries to her face, neck and right hand and is currently receiving treatment in hospital.

A male colleague was unhurt and able to remove her from harm's way and summon assistance from other officers.

Speaking at the scene, Chief Superintendent Paul Money said it was thought only one shot was fired.

The shooting happened shortly after 4am

He said: "My understanding at this time is that the officer was hit by one shot. We believe at this stage there was one discharge of that firearm and not multiple discharges."

Mr Money added: "This is quite obviously an incident that is thankfully rare in Leeds but nonetheless very shocking."

The force said a 37-year-old man was arrested at 10.10am in nearby Wood Lane in Headingley following a call from a member of the public, and a firearm was recovered in the area.

Assistant Chief Constable Geoff Dodd said the investigation was "still at an early stage" and while "any potential risk to the public has been removed", a police presence would remain in the area.

Police officers stand guard in Cardigan Road

"The officer has sustained a very serious injury and her wellbeing is of paramount importance to us. The thoughts of colleagues remain with the officer and her family at this very difficult time," he said.

"It is right to say that incidents where police officers face threat from firearms are thankfully very rare but that does not lessen the shocking impact when an officer is injured in such a way," he added.

Ned Liddemore, vice chairman of the Police Federation, described the shooting as a "cowardly attack".

"We will be supporting the officers and their families through this traumatic time," he said.

Forensic officers at the scene

Kieran Williams, 17, described how he had an altercation with Mr Leslie on Tuesday.

The teenager said Mr Leslie came to his house, which backs on to the scene of the shooting, complaining that someone was shining a torch through his window.

A woman police officer called round to take information from his housemates during the night after a bottle was thrown through their window.

He said he later heard multiple shots.

Radio Aire reporter Charlie Frost said she spoke to a couple of neighbours who heard a disturbance.

"They told be that they were very shook by the incident and that it is very worrying that it can happen here on their doorstep," she told Sky News.

Police are not looking for anybody else in connection with the shooting.

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Woolwich Suspect: Killing 'Gives Me Little Joy'

One of the men accused of killing soldier Lee Rigby told police it gives him "little joy to approach anybody and slay them", a court has heard.

Michael Adebolajo, who denies murder, made the comments in a two-hour interview, which was played to jurors at the Old Bailey.

As he sat with a blue blanket covering his head, the 28-year-old, who gave his name at Mujahid Abu Hamza, told officers it was "not my character" to kill people.

The videotaped interview showed him speaking non-stop for 30 minutes, pausing only for a sip of water.

He described how the rape of Muslim women "disgusts me to the core", telling officers: "If it does not affect you, you are wicked men."

Adebolajo and co-defendant Michael Adebowale were seen on CCTV

During his police statement, Adebolajo told officers that Drummer Rigby "was struck in the neck with a sharp implement and it was sawed until his head became, you know, almost detached".

"May Allah forgive me if I acted in a way that was displeasing to him," he added.

At one point in the interview, Adebolajo complained that he was refused permission to remove blood from his hands in hospital.

He was heard telling officers: "I have blood on my hands and I wish, like any sane man, to remove that blood."

When one of them tried to interrupt his monologue, Adebolajo raised his voice and said: "When I'm finished, you may speak."

Drummer Lee Rigby was killed in Woolwich on May 22

A female juror wept as a pathologist gave the court a detailed breakdown of Drummer Rigby's injuries, which included some stab wounds up to 12cm deep and others that "almost entirely circled" the neck.

The soldier's family decided not to attend court for Dr Simon Poole's graphic evidence.

He said Drummer Rigby was probably knocked unconscious when he was hit by the defendants' car but died from multiple incised wounds inflicted later.

The court also heard a statement from a psychiatrist who assessed Adebolajo in the days after Drummer Rigby was killed in Woolwich, southeast London, just metres from a military barracks.

Adebolajo claimed he did not recognise the name of co-defendant Adebowale

He said he showed "no signs of regret or remorse for his actions" but was polite and co-operative with medical staff.

There was no evidence of any mental health problems, he added.

Earlier, jurors were shown pictures of the weapons used in the attack on Drummer Rigby, including a meat cleaver, knives and a handgun.

DNA recovered from one of the knives matched Adebolajo's, the jury was told.

Other images showed a box containing a block of knives that was found inside the defendants' Vauxhall Tigra car, and the clothing worn by the pair on the day of the attack.

Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, 22, both deny murdering Drummer Rigby, attempting to murder a police officer and conspiracy to murder.

The trial continues.

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Hewlett-Packard To Cut 1,100 UK Jobs In 2014

Hewlett-Packard (HP) has confirmed it is planning to cut 1,100 jobs at the start of 2014 from three UK sites.

The US-based firm - which remains the world's biggest maker of PCs - will axe 1,124 posts in total from its operations in Bracknell, Sheffield and Warrington during the first three months of the new year.

The company, which was reacting to an apparent leak by the Unite union, said the proposed losses were part of a workforce management plan that was first raised in May 2012 and expected to result in 7,000 staff losing their jobs across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

HP said at that time it was looking to save £2.2bn, which it would invest in growth areas like 'cloud' storage technology.

Unite national officer Ian Tonks said today: "For the last five years HP has been addicted to a culture of job cuts in the UK, to such an extent that its highly skilled workforce has little faith in the way the company is being managed and will be going forward.

Meg Whitman is implementing a turnaround plan for HP

"Unite will be doing everything possible to mitigate these job losses which are a hammer blow to the UK's IT sector and very distressing for employees in the run-up to Christmas."

Unite said 618 jobs could be lost at the Bracknell hub, although the employees work at multiple locations; 483 will go at Warrington and 23 at Sheffield.

HP's statement said: "HP remains committed to supporting the employability of its employees through a number of internal initiatives, including re-skilling, redeployment and support to obtain alternative employment as appropriate."

The firm is under pressure amid a global decline in PC sales amid growing demand for laptops and greater tablet use.

In a mission statement on the company's website, chief executive Meg Whitman writes: "We are in a multi-year journey to turn HP around, and we have put in place a plan to restore HP to growth.

"We know where we need to go, and we're making progress.

"We continue to drive product innovation in our core markets, with a focus on cloud, security, and big data.

"We see big opportunities ahead, and we are well positioned to take advantage of these opportunities with our remarkable set of assets and strengths.

"We have the people, the plan, and the foundation in place to help us succeed on the next phase of the journey."

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Nigella Lawson Admits Having Used Cocaine

Nigella Lawson has admitted in court she used cocaine "several times", but insisted she is not a habitual user of the drug.

The 53-year-old said she had used the drug half a dozen times when her then husband John Diamond was terminally ill and in 2010 when she was subjected to "intimate terrorism".

She also admitted smoking cannabis in the last year of her marriage to Charles Saatchi, but said she has now given up.

She said: "I have never been a drug addict. I've never been a habitual user. There are two times in my life when I have used cocaine.

"I have to be honest, I have smoked the odd joint. It's a false friend and not a good idea.

"I have to say, since freeing myself from a brilliant but brutal man, I'm now totally cannabis, cocaine, any drug-free."

Francesca, left, and Elisabetta Grillo deny the fraud charge

Ms Lawson said the first instance was with her late husband when he found out his cancer was terminal, and said she had taken it with him on six occasions. The second occasion was when a friend gave the drug to her.

She added: "There was another time I took cocaine. In July 2010 I was having a very, very difficult time.

"I felt subjected to intimate terrorism by Mr Saatchi."

She said claims she was a drug addict were "absolutely ridiculous".

Ms Lawson was giving evidence at Isleworth Crown Court at the trial of two former personal assistants accused of spending thousands of pounds on company credit cards.

Earlier on Wednesday she claimed allegations of drug abuse had been spread by her ex-husband Charles Saatchi in an attempt to ruin her reputation. She also claimed it was a "witch hunt".

She said: "I have been put on trial here where I am called to answer, and glad to answer the allegations, and the world's press, and it comes after a long summer of bullying and abuse.

"He (Saatchi) had said to me if I didn't get back to him and clear his name he would destroy me."

Following a much-publicised incident at Scott's restaurant in Mayfair, London, where her ex-husband was pictured with his hand on her throat, false allegations of drug abuse about her began circulating on a "PR blog" she said.

She said these allegations were "dedicated to salvaging Mr Saatchi's reputation and destroying mine".

Ms Lawson claimed in court the incident was sparked when she commented on a person walking by with a baby.

Mr Saatchi was pictured with his hand on Nigella's throat in June

She said: "I said 'I'm so looking forward to having grandchildren'.

"He grabbed me by the throat and said 'I'm the only person you should be concerned with'."

It is alleged that between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2012, Italian sisters Elisabetta and Francesca Grillo committed fraud by abusing their positions while working for the couple.

The jury was told they are accused of using credit cards loaned to them by the TV chef and art dealer to spend more than £685,000 on themselves.

Prosecutors claim the women lived the "high life", spending the money on designer clothes and handbags from Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Vivienne Westwood.

Ms Lawson told the court: "It's very difficult when you find out that someone you have loved and trusted could behave that way.

"In my heart of hearts I do not believe Lisa (Elisabetta) to be a bad person. I believe her not to have a very strong moral compass.

"She broke our heart."

She added that she once took out £7,000 from her savings to pay for Elisabetta Grillo to have her teeth fixed.

Elisabetta, 41, sometimes referred to in court as Lisa, and co-defendant Francesca, 35, both of Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater, west London, deny the charge against them.

:: Watch coverage on Sky News

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