NHS 111: Patient Deaths Under Investigation

The deaths of three people are under investigation in connection with the NHS 111 non-emergency phone line, according to a report.

The general practitioners trade magazine Pulse reported that at least 22 possible "serious untoward incidents" (or SUIs) related to NHS 111 have been reported since the launch of the service.

Those incidents included three where a patient died, the magazine has claimed.

Two of the deaths occurred in the East Midlands, and one in the West Midlands.

The deaths reportedly include the case of a 47-year-old who died from a suspected overdose.

That death occurred after relatives contacted NHS 111 requesting mental health assistance, Pulse reported. 

A further 19 possible SUIs have been recorded by providers or commissioners, the magazine added.

Rolled out across most of the country last month, the NHS 111 service is for people urgently seeking medical help or advice but who are not in a life-threatening situation.

The service was introduced to replace NHS Direct in England and is meant to ease pressure on emergency 999 call centres.

NHS England said it could not verify the data reported in Pulse, however it issued a statement in response to the magazine's report.

"The safety of patients must be our paramount concern and NHS England will keep a careful eye on the situation to ensure NHS 111 provides not only a good service to the public, but one which is also safe," the statement read.

Earlier this week, NHS England announced a review of the 111 service.

A spokesman said: "The performance standards which have been introduced for NHS 111 represent a gold standard which the majority of NHS 111 services in England are now meeting, though in some areas performance is still unacceptable, especially at weekends.

"Some local providers of NHS 111 have not provided the prompt, reliable service the public need and want.

"NHS England's board is determined to ensure that the public have access to a gold standard NHS 111 service wherever they live in England."

But Clare Gerada, chairwoman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, raised concerns about the free-to-call advice line.

"It is extremely worrying that there is still so much uncertainty around the delivery and reliability of the advice provided by NHS 111 in some areas.

"We are also concerned that patients are losing confidence in the new service before it is even fully up and running.

"We call on NHS England to provide more reassurance about its effectiveness and ability to deliver the necessary standards of care for all patients using the service, right across England."

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Cameron Told To 'Break Impression Of Privilege'

Q&A: UK Independence Party

Updated: 11:55am UK, Friday 03 May 2013

UKIP's leader said the party's strong showing at the local elections will send "shockwaves" through Westminster. But who is behind the party, how has it grown and what is it campaigning for?

:: What is UKIP?

The UK Independence Party was founded in 1993. It calls itself "the only party standing up for Britain and the British people". UKIP gained its first seats in the European Parliament in 1999 and within a decade it had won another 10. Earlier this year, the party came second to the Liberal Democrats in the Eastleigh by-election, winning 28% of the vote - the party's best ever Westminster result.

:: Who leads the party?

Nigel Farage. He was elected as an MEP for South East England in 1999 and took over as UKIP leader 11 years later, following the resignation of Lord Pearson of Rannoch.

:: What does UKIP want?

The party is best known for its opposition to the EU - "not because we hate Europe, or foreigners, or anyone at all," the party's website states, "but because it's undemocratic, expensive, bossy - and we still haven't been asked whether we want to be in it".

UKIP wants the country to be governed from within the UK, not Brussels, and claims a withdrawal from the EU would save billions of pounds every year.

:: What about its other policies?

UKIP would pull out of the European Convention of Human Rights, which it claims would ease the deportation of foreign criminals and terror suspects.

On health, the party says it would hand over the majority of spending to elected county health boards, which would be accountable to local people.

It has also proposed a £13,000 annual tax-free allowance and a 25% flat rate of income tax.

:: Does UKIP have any MPs?

No. The party fielded 558 candidates in the last General Election but none were elected.

:: How about any MEPs?

The party is represented in the European Parliament by 12 MEPs, including Mr Farage and the party's deputy leader Paul Nuttall.

:: Have there been any controversies?

The party is embroiled in a row with the Conservatives, which it has accused of running a "coordinated smear campaign". Cabinet minister Ken Clarke fuelled the row by calling party members "clowns", while Prime Minister David Cameron once said UKIP members were mostly "fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists".

Most recently, Alex Wood, a county council candidate, was suspended by UKIP after a photo of him allegedly making a Nazi-style salute appeared in a national newspaper. Mr Farage said the 22-year-old had been trying to stop his girlfriend taking photos of him "imitating a pot plant".

In 2010, Mr Farage infamously said the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, had "the charisma of a damp rag".

:: Just how strong was UKIP's performance at this year's local elections?

The party estimates it will win around one million votes - more than a quarter of the total. It is on course to beat the 920,000 votes it won at the General Election in 2010, when more people were eligible to vote.

:: How much does the party spend and how is it funded?

Figures released by the Electoral Commission show UKIP spent more than £2m contesting the 2010 General Election - the bulk of which (£920,000) went on advertising and publicity material. In 2012, UKIP received more than £310,000 from 66 donations.

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Israeli Warplanes Launch Airstrike In Syria

Israeli officials have confirmed its air force carried out an airstrike allegedly targeting a shipment of advanced missiles in Syria.

The officials said the target was not chemical weapons, but of "game changing" arms bound for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The strike took place overnight on Thursday into Friday, just as Israel was flying many warplanes over Lebanon.

The US earlier said it did not believe Israeli warplanes entered Syrian airspace to conduct the strikes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly warned in recent weeks that his country would be prepared to take military action if chemical weapons or other arms were to reach Hezbollah.

Earlier this month, Israel admitted carrying out a January airstrike on a weapons convoy believed to be carrying anti-aircraft equipment in Syria thought to be en route to Hezbollah.

The confirmation of the strike came hours after Barack Obama refused to rule out options in dealing with the crisis in Syria but said he did not foresee sending in US ground troops.

Mr Obama, on a trip to Costa Rica, rules out US 'boots' on Syrian ground

Speaking during a visit to Costa Rica, the US President said: "As a general rule, I don't rule things out as commander-in-chief because circumstances change and you want to make sure that I always have the full power of the United States at our disposal to meet American national security interests.

"Having said that, I do not foresee a scenario in which boots on the ground in Syria, American boots on the ground in Syria, would not only be good for America but also would be good for Syria."

Mr Obama said there was evidence that chemical weapons had been used in Syria, but that "we don't know when, where or how they were used".

But if "strong evidence" is found of such weapons being used by the regime of President Bashar al Assad, then "that is a game changer for us" because "there is a possibility that it lands in the hands of organisations like Hezbollah", Mr Obama said.

Mr Obama said if use of chemical weapons in Syria is confirmed, the US will present that evidence to the international community, because it concerns the entire world.

But he called for caution to avoid unintended consequences, saying: It's important for us to do it right."

Meanwhile, warnings of a new "large-scale massacre" in Syria have emerged following reports Mr Assad's troops bombarded Sunni areas near the city of Bania.

There have been reports of a 'large-scale massacre' in Baida

The opposition National Coalition accused the regime of "war crimes and genocide", citing witness reports of civilians being stabbed to death.

"The Coalition calls on the Arab League and the United Nations to act rapidly to save the civilians of Baida, Banias and other villages across Syria," it said in a statement.

"Several sources in the village say at least 50 people were killed in summary executions and shelling in Baida village,"Rami Abdel Rahman, of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP news agency.

Syria's official Sana news agency said troops killed "terrorists" and seized arms in an operation targeting rebels.

Regular forces were supported by pro-regime "shabiha" militiamen, said the Observatory, which relies on a network of sources on the ground for its information.

The Banias region is predominantly Alawite, an offshoot of Shia Islam and the sect of Mr Assad, while the insurgents battling to topple his regime are mainly Sunni Muslims.

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Man Found In Chimney Of Law Firm Named

A man whose body was found in the chimney of a solicitors in Derby city centre has been named by police.

Kevin Gough, of no fixed abode, was found at Moody & Woolley Solicitors in St Mary's Gate around noon on May 1.

The area was cordoned off while the 42-year-old's body was removed.

Staff at the firm told the local paper they noticed a gap in the wall in an unused part of the building about a month ago and thought it looked as if someone had tried to break in.

Julie Marson, senior partner at the firm, told the Derby Telegraph: "It's such a dreadful way for anybody to die, regardless of what the chap was trying to do."

Police are not treating his death as suspicious.

An inquest will open at Derby Coroner's Court later on Friday.

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South Shields: Labour Win As UKIP Crush Tories

Labour's Emma Lewell-Buck has won the South Shields parliamentary by-election, with UKIP's Richard Elvin coming second.

The result was disastrous for the Liberal Democrats, who were pushed down to seventh place and lost their deposit, and also bad for the Conservatives who picked up just 11.5% of the vote.

Ms Lewell-Buck won 12,493 votes, beating Mr Elvin by 6,505 votes in the contest triggered by former foreign secretary David Miliband's decision to quit British politics.

In her victory speech, Ms Lewell-Buck, a social worker, attacked the Government over its austerity programme.

"This by-election was a choice between a one nation Labour party that will work with communities to turn this country around, and David Cameron's Tory-led Government which has taken this country in the wrong direction," she said.

"I will help get people back to work, champion our wonderful town and never give the Tory Government one moment's peace."

She went on to tell Sky News she was eager to "deliver on all my pledges - to increase jobs, investment and growth, and fight the Tories on bedroom tax".

UKIP's Richard Elvin got 24.21% of the vote

Runner-up Mr Elvin said it had been an "absolutely fantastic" result for UKIP.

He told Sky News: "We had a terrific team here and they worked fantastically hard, and to go from nowhere to take 24% has been just absolutely stunning.

"We will keep on fighting every election which is offered to us and it is only a matter of time until we'll achieve our first success in Westminster."

Tory candidate Karen Allen was disappointed by her poor showing, telling Sky News: "We are really listening to what the electorate want and we are going to be responding to that.

Conservative Karen Allen received just 11.55% of the vote

"There's a message here from South Shields. I have heard it very clearly and I am sure the Conservatives are listening very attentively."

Crestfallen Lib Dem candidate Hugh Annand, who got just 352 votes, told Sky News: "The fact that we did not do particularly well in a constituency like this where we have never done particularly well is not a disaster for the party nationally by any means.

"It is a gentle reminder not to just my own party leader but politicians in London generally that they should come to pay more attention to the North East, and if that's the lesson we can learn from this then I think everyone will benefit."

Former Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik described the result as "appalling" and demanded a "credible explanation from Nick Clegg regarding the recovery strategy".

Mr Opik, who lost his Montgomeryshire seat in 2010, said: "Veteran members deserve to know how this electoral crisis will be fixed."

The full results of by-election:
Emma Lewell-Buck (Lab) 12,493 (50.51%, -1.51%)
Richard Elvin (UKIP) 5,988 (24.21%)
Karen Allen (Con) 2,857 (11.55%, -10.04%)
Ahmed Khan (Ind) 1,331 (5.38%)
Phil Brown (Ind Soc) 750 (3.03%)
Lady Dorothy MacBeth Brookes (BNP) 711 (2.87%, -3.65%)
Hugh Annand (Lib Dem) 352 (1.42%, -12.79%)
Howling Laud Hope (Loony) 197 (0.80%)
Thomas Darwood (Ind) 57 (0.23%)

Turnout was 39.28%.

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Local Council Elections: UKIP Make Big Gains

The UK Independence Party has made stunning electoral gains and declared itself the "official opposition" - largely at the expense of the Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats.

Nigel Farage's UKIP became the second largest party in Lincolnshire as the Conservatives lost control of that county council as well as Gloucestershire - and also reduced the Tories' grip on power in Essex and Hampshire.

UKIP also finished second with 24% of the vote behind Labour in the South Shields parliamentary by-election, triggered by the resignation of David Miliband, with the two coalition parties suffering a drubbing.

The new MP, Emma Lewell-Buck said her victory was a verdict on the Government's austerity measures.

It was another bad result for the Conservatives who finished third, and a disastrous one for the Liberal Democrats who lost their deposit and finished seventh with just 352 votes behind UKIP, the Tories, an independent, the Socialist Party and the BNP.

Labour's newest MP Emma Lewell-Buck wins the South Shields by-election

"Send in the clowns," said a delighted Mr Farage, after his candidates were earlier this week dismissed as a bunch of clowns, fruitcakes and closet racists by Tory Cabinet minister Ken Clarke.

"We've been abused by everybody, attacked by the entire establishment who did their best to stop ordinary decent people going out and voting UKIP, and they have done in big, big numbers," he said.

"By the end of today we are going to have a fair tally - and it sends a shockwave, I think, through the establishment."

Asked whether UKIP were no more than the beneficiaries of protest votes against the coalition Government, Mr Farage replied: "If you speak to the Westminster elite, they will tell you 'it is just a protest, nothing to worry about really'.

"When I meet UKIP voters they say, 'Nigel, we're voting for you because we believe in what you stand for'.

"These votes are not easily going to go back to the Labour and Conservative parties."

A UKIP spokesman said the party was "delighted" and on course to win "well over" 100 seats, with counting still to take place in the vast majority of English authorities and the Isle of Anglesey in Wales.

Richard Elvin, the UKIP candidate who came second in South Shields

He said the council successes were a "stepping stone" to the party's eventual aim of winning parliamentary elections.

"If this is any sign at all, it will make a few MPs feel a bit less comfortable in their parliamentary seats," the spokesman said.

The party had succeeded in securing "bridgeheads" in counties across England, he said. "It's now looking likely that we will get well past 100 county council seats."

Senior politicians from the three main parties attempted to explain the UKIP surge, which could have major implications, particularly for David Cameron as he attempts to calm the fears of grassroots Tories nervous at the loss of votes to Mr Farage's party.

Conservative Chairman Grant Shapps acknowledged that his party had been hit by the rise of UKIP.

He told Sky News: "We hear the message, we get it, we understand what people are saying. They want to see change faster in this country and that is what we intend to deliver over the next couple of years.

"We need to show that we are relentlessly on the side of hard-working people in this country, who want to get on in life, do the right thing, and Conservatives back them.

More than 2,300 seats are being contested in polls for 34 English councils

"We have actually been making progress - we've cut the deficit by a third and cut net immigration by a third.

"My main concern is to listen to the voters and make sure we are reflecting their concerns - putting jobs and prosperity and fixing the economy first and foremost - that's where all our time and energy is going to be focused."

Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes insisted his party was holding ground in places where it has strong support - and that it was the Labour Party that was in trouble.

He told Sky News: "We have had losses, but not catastrophic losses ... I'm not complacent about UKIP, but we are a party of government, and government parties generally have a harder time in a by-election and in elections in the middle of a parliament.

"I would far rather we were in there trying to temper a more right-wing Tory party, which I'm afraid is becoming even more right-wing because of UKIP ... and Labour, who should be benefiting look today as if they are not benefiting at all and UKIP are taking the votes that you would expect Labour to pick up."

Shadow communities secretary Hilary Benn insisted it was a "bad night for David Cameron" - not Labour.

"These were always going to be a tough set of elections for us because they are being fought in Tory heartlands, but we're looking to make progress," he said.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage on the local election campaign trail yesterday

Overnight counts took place at six authorities which were held by the Tories before the election.

The Conservatives retained control in Dorset, Essex, Hampshire and - narrowly - Somerset, where they lost five seats and the Liberal Democrats lost four.

But as well as in Lincolnshire, they were ousted from overall control in Gloucestershire, where there were four gains for Labour and three for UKIP.

The Tories were sent a warning in their traditional Essex heartland, losing nine county council seats to a bullish UKIP.

And they were held to "Ransome" in Lincolnshire as mother-of-four Sue Ransome and her daughters Felicity and Elizabeth celebrated three UKIP gains in Boston.

Retired headteacher Philip Fawkes - a distant relation of gunpowder plotter Guy Fawkes - was elected a UKIP councillor the South Waterside ward in Hampshire County Council, with a majority of 315 and a 37.2% share of the vote.

Mr Farage said it showed "the blood of rebellion still runs in his veins".

Sushil Kantibhai Patel, the father of Tory MP Priti Patel - took second place behind the Conservatives as the UKIP candidate in the Bushey South ward in the Hertfordshire County poll.

There was some good news for Nick Clegg as the Lib Dems won the by-election in the Fulwood ward in the heart of his Sheffield Hallam constituency in South Yorkshire, ahead of Labour, the Tories and UKIP.

Labour's Norma Redfearn ousted incumbent Tory Linda Arkley in the battle to be mayor of North Tyneside.

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Interest-Only Borrowers Face 'Wake-Up Call'

Homeowners with interest-only mortgages due to be paid before 2020 need to "act now" to ensure they have enough money to pay their loans back, a report says.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) fears that consumers are under-estimating the scale of the problem, with around 260,000 people thought to have no strategy in place for repaying their loan.

Consumer campaigners also raised concerns that a "significant" number of people claimed to be unaware how their loan was meant to be paid back when they took the product out and called for further work to make sure some borrowers were not mis-sold deals.

13% of borrowers were unaware they needed an interest-only repayment plan

Mortgage lenders have agreed to alert their most at-risk customers to help them avoid "payment shocks". Some of them could end up having to sell their home to pay the loan back if they do not take stronger control of their repayment planning.

Around 2.6 million interest-only mortgages are due for repayment over the next 30 years but research has revealed that one in 10 people on such a deal have no plan for paying the money back.

The report said it was not clear how well some borrowers understood the discussions about how the mortgage was meant to be repaid when they took the deal out.

Some 13% of interest-only borrowers said they were not aware when they took out the deal that they needed a plan in place to repay the whole amount borrowed, not just the interest - and a further 6% were unsure.

However, those who said they were unaware of the need for a repayment strategy were more likely to have taken out the deal longer ago and just one in 40 people (2.5%) who said they were unaware still has no repayment plan in place.

Richard Lloyd, executive director of consumer group Which?, said: "We're worried that a significant proportion of consumers say they did not know they needed a separate repayment plan on their interest-only mortgage."

The FCA said that the regulator is concentrating its efforts on making sure that the people whose interest-only mortgages are maturing will have a way of paying their loan back.

Mortgage lenders will contact homeowners considered most at risk

It is thought that despite the report's findings, there are no particular jumps in mortgage complaints figures to suggest that the way that interest-only mortgages were sold was a widespread problem.

A Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) spokeswoman said that the body's focus will be on helping those who still have no strategy in place for repaying their mortgage.

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British Poker Player Jailed For Wife's Murder

A British professional poker player has been jailed for 20 years for killing his wife in America in the "heat of passion".

Marcus Bebb-Jones had denied killing his wife Sabrina in 1997, but pleaded guilty earlier this year under an agreement that meant he avoided a trial on a first-degree murder charge.

The couple were running the Melrose Hotel in Grand Junction, Colorado, when Mrs Bebb-Jones disappeared in September 1997.

Her skull was found in 2004 in a national park near Douglas Pass in north-west Colorado.

Bebb-Jones was arrested at his home in Kidderminster in Worcestershire in 2009 amid accusations he went on to spend thousands of dollars on her credit cards before botching a suicide bid.

The 49-year-old lost his appeal against extradition to the US in 2011 and was due to stand trial.

He pleaded guilty at a hearing in the 9th Judicial District Court in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, in February.

District Attorney Sherry Caloia said he made a plea bargain, admitting murder in the second degree, in exchange for a sentence of no more than 20 years.

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Bill Roache: Actor To Respond To Rape Charges

Coronation street star Bill Roache is expected to give a statement later after being accused of raping a teenager in 1967.

The 81-year-old, who has played Ken Barlow in the ITV soap since its launch in 1960, was arrested at his home in Wilmslow, Cheshire, on Wednesday.

Some 12 hours later, he was charged with two counts of rape of a 15-year-old girl.

Lancashire Police said it followed a consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Nazir Afzal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: "We have carefully considered all the evidence gathered by Lancashire Police in relation to William Roache following allegations of rape.

"Having completed our review, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Roache to be charged with two offences of rape relating to a girl, aged 15, in 1967."

Police officers stand guard outside Roache's secluded Cheshire home

ITV said in a statement that Roache - the world's longest-serving soap actor - will not be appearing in Coronation Street until legal proceedings have finished.

After his Coronation Street co-star Michael Le Vell was charged with 19 child sex offences, Roache called for anonymity for those accused of such crimes because of the stigma they face even if innocent.

Speaking to Sky News in March, he said: "If there is to be anonymity for the accusers at this stage, then there should most certainly be anonymity for those accused, until such time as there is strong evidence to show that there was some truth to the allegations at least."

Le Vell, who will not appear as mechanic Kevin Webster while he awaits his trial, has stated publicly that he is innocent and will fight the allegations.

Roache will appear at Preston Magistrates' Court on May 14.

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Amanda Knox: I Want To Visit Meredith's Grave

Amanda Knox has said she wants to visit the grave of Meredith Kercher - but only with the permission of the murdered British student's family.

In her first television interview since being freed from an Italian prison, she said: "Eventually I can have their permission to pay my respects at her grave and I would also like them to know that she talked about them to me."

Italian prosecutors claim Miss Knox and her then-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, killed Miss Kercher, 21, in a drug-fuelled sex game along with another man in 2007.

Miss Knox's alibi rests on her claim that she was at Mr Sollecito's house on the night, and not at the Perugia flat she shared with Miss Kercher.

But during a police interrogation she admitted she was at home with Miss Kercher.

Miss Knox insists she was at Mr Sollecito's home on the night in question

When questioned by ABC News' Diane Sawyer as she launched her book on her experience, she insisted the partial confession was the result of her "breaking down".

"I didn't confess. I was interrogated," Miss Knox told ABC News. "(The police) acted like my answers were wrong, they told me I was wrong, that I didn't remember correctly, that I had to remember correctly, and that if I didn't I would never see her family.

"I can only describe it as breaking down, I didn't know what I remembered and what I didn't remember anymore. I was incredibly vulnerable at that time."

In the memoir, she writes about how she also considered suicide while in prison.

Miss Knox - who is facing a retrial over the killing - insists in the interview that she did not leave Mr Sollecito's home.

Miss Knox says she wants to visit the grave of Miss Kercher

"We stayed in, had dinner, we watched a movie, we smoked, we had sex, we were together.

"We just hung out together, we talked, we talked about his mum, we made silly faces at each other.

"We stayed in the whole night."

The 25-year-old said she returned to the home she shared with Miss Kercher the next morning, but despite the front door being wide-open and spotting blood on the sink she took a shower.

"At the sink when I was taking out my earrings I noticed there were speckles of blood. But speckles, a few drops."

She said that when she got out of the shower she noticed a bloodied bath mat, adding: "I thought it was strange."

She returned to Mr Sollecito's home, and says she told him of her concerns after breakfast. He called police, who discovered Miss Kercher's body.

"It never occurred to me that I would ever be considered a suspect. Ever."

Miss Knox denied claims there had been any tension with Miss Kercher in the run-up to her death.

"It bothers me when people suggest that she wasn't my friend," she said. "I was stunned by her death, she was my friend."

During her original trial, much was made of Miss Knox's apparent lack of grief following Miss Kercher's death.

Miss Knox admitted she "could have been more sensitive" but said people deal with grief in different ways.

Her murder conviction was overturned in October 2011, but in March an Italian court ordered a retrial for both her and Mr Sollecito, 29.

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Brit Explorer Dies In Trek Across Arctic

A British adventurer has died during an attempt to cross part of the Greenland ice sheet with two colleagues.

Philip Goodeve-Docker, 30, described as a "rookie to the Arctic" was taking part in the unsupported 400-mile trek with friends Andy Norman, 33, and expedition leader Roan Hackney.

Despite being new to the Arctic he had been 'training furiously'

The men had planned to negotiate part of the ice cap from east to west in 30 days, pulling heavy sleds known as 'pulks' containing their food, equipment and supplies.

But they got into difficulties two days and 120 miles into the trip after they were engulfed by a severe snowstorm known as a 'Piteraq' which blew away their tent.

The men radioed for help but a helicopter was unable to reach their position until the next morning. By the time it arrived, Mr Goodeve-Docker was already dead and his colleagues were suffering from frost-bite and shock.

A statement issued by the Foreign Office said: "We are aware that three British nationals were in difficulty during an expedition in Greenland, and have been rescued by the authorities. 

"Sadly one of the team, Philip Goodeve-Docker, died. The other two British nationals are in hospital. We are providing consular assistance to their families at this difficult time."

An expedition website that had been set-up by the men states that Mr Goodeve-Docker was "completely new" to the Arctic, but that he had been "training furiously" for the trip.

Mr Goodeve-Docker with team members Roan Hackney and Andy Norman

Expedition leader Roan Hackney is described as an experienced adventurer, having completed several Arctic expeditions, including being part of a team that attempted the same trip two years ago.

The team are said to have been remotely supported and monitored in the UK by Paul Walker, described as a world leader in managing Greenland expeditions.

On the JustGiving page before he left for Greenland, Mr Goodeve-Docker wrote of the dangers he would face travelling across one of the most "deadly landscapes in the world".

"Part of my reasons for this frankly nutty adventure is my Grandfather, Patrick Pirie-Gordon, who passed away two years ago.

Greenland presents one of the most challenging terrains on earth

"Amongst his achievements were his key roles as Treasurer and Honorary Vice-President for the Royal Geographical Society, helping fund polar exploration, and Treasurer for the QNI. He was intensely passionate about both these institutions.

"It gave me added incentive to say yes to the expedition and, because of their fantastic work in nursing & helping those in need at home, to do my part for QNI. They really do fantastic work.

"So please dig deep and donate now. All the support will be great incentive to come back in one piece! :) I'm going back outside to stumble around with tyres again..wish me luck!"

A statement issued by Mr Goodeve-Docker's family, said: "To our son, brother and friend, we are so glad that you were on your adventure and expedition that you had wanted to do for so long. You will be unbelievably missed and your memory cherished. Xx"

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Three British Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan

Three British soldiers have been killed in a roadside bomb attack in Helmand Province in Afghanistan.

The soldiers from The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, were killed when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED) whilst on a routine patrol, the Ministry of Defence said.

The attack took place on Tuesday in the Nahr-e Saraj district. The three were evacuated by air to the military hospital at Camp Bastion but could not be saved, the MoD said.

Their families have been informed.

Sky's Defence Correspondent Alistair Bunkall says another six have been injured.

Prime Minister David Cameron said the country has paid a "very high price" for the work it is doing in Afghanistan.

The soldiers were aboard a heavily-armoured Mastiff vehicle

"It is important work because it's vital that country doesn't again become a haven for terrorists - terrorists that can threaten us here in the UK," Mr Cameron added.

"But today our thoughts should be with the families and friends of those that have suffered."

Labour leader Ed Miliband called the deaths "tragic news".

The deaths bring the total number of British troops killed in Afghanistan to 404 in the past 12 years, with total losses at 444.

Six have now died in 2013.

A ministry spokesman said the attack "underlines the threats faced by our personnel as they continue to hand over security operations to their Afghan counterparts ahead of UK combat operations concluding by the end of next year".

"Security in Helmand, where most UK forces are based, is steadily improving with Afghan forces already responsible for the bulk of the province - but the environment in which our troops operate remains risky and dangerous, including the threat of improvised explosive devices and insurgent attack.

"We will continue to do all we can to minimise these risks but they can never be removed entirely."

The attack came on the third day of what the Taliban has called its spring offensive. In past years, spring has marked a significant upsurge in fighting between the Taliban and Nato forces with their local allies.

This fighting season is a key test, as the international coalition is scheduled to hand over security responsibilities to Afghan forces next year.

The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion.

They deployed to Afghanistan in March from their base in Penicuik, Midlothian, near Edinburgh.

The last time so many UK soldiers were killed in one attack was in March 2012, when six died as their Warrior armoured vehicle was blown up by a massive improvised explosive device near the town of Lashkar Gah.

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Dubai Drugs: Torture Claims As Britons Jailed

Three British men, who say they were beaten by Dubai police and had guns held to their heads, have been sentenced to four years in prison for drug offences.

Grant Cameron, 25, Karl Williams, 26, and Suneet Jeerh, 25, were found guilty of possession of synthetic cannabis, known as spice.

The men, from London, were arrested last July while they were on holiday in the Gulf state.

Cameron's mother, Tracy, told Sky News her son was subjected to electric shocks and beatings at the hands of police.

The three also claimed they were forced to sign documents in Arabic - a language none of them understands - after having guns put to their heads.

Mrs Cameron said on Sunday: "When he was initially arrested, the three boys were separated, handcuffed, put into cars and driven into the desert.

"It did appear that the CID officers were using different tactics to try and disorientate the boys.

"They were beaten while handcuffed while in separate cars. Beaten around the head, guns were held to their head and they received various Taser injuries as well."

Williams also said he had electric shocks administered to his testicles.

Following the sentencing Mrs Cameron said she was "ecstatic" with the result - the men's families had originally been warned they could face the death penalty.

She told Sky News she was confident the men will be granted pardons during an amnesty in Ramadan in July and will be free by the end of the year.

She said she had seen her son for two hours last Thursday and that he is being held in a maximum security prison in "quite harsh conditions".

Jeerh's sister Davena Kumar told Sky News she believes her brother is innocent and that his lawyers will be appealing the sentence.

She also backed up the trio's claims of torture, saying: "I definitely believe he was tortured, not only do I believe he was tortured, I've actually seen the marks on his body still."

Pressure group Reprieve, which campaigns on behalf of prisoners, said the men should be granted clemency and their torture allegations should be thoroughly investigated.

Reprieve investigator Kate Higham said: "The central fact of this case remains that these men were tortured by police, but there has been no proper investigation into their abuse.

"The only reasonable course of action for the UAE authorities now is to grant these men clemency, release them and allow them to return home to their families.

"David Cameron must push for this when UAE President Sheikh Khalifa arrives on a state visit tomorrow."

The UAE has said it has investigated the allegations of torture and found them "baseless".

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has called for a full, independent and impartial inquiry into the torture allegations and has raised them with "very senior officials" in the UAE.

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NYC Hit-And-Run Suspect: 'Accidents Happen'

A driver charged over the hit-and-run deaths of a pregnant woman and her husband in New York City has played down his part in the fatal smash, telling a local TV reporter that "accidents happen".

Julio Acevedo told WABC in an exclusive interview recorded in prison that he was deeply sorry.

But he insisted he was not speeding when his car crashed into a taxi carrying ultra-orthodox Jewish couple Nachman and Raizy Glauber in the Williamsburg district of Brooklyn on March 3.

"I can't bring 'em back; it was an accident," he said. "I apologise deeply."

The 44-year-old admitted he shared some guilt but attempted to shift some of the blame to the cab driver, who he alleged ran a red light.

The remains of the cab the couple was travelling in

"Sure I played a part. I couldn't stop. Accidents happen," he went on.

"Let's ask the cab driver why did he run the stop sign. He was more in a rush than I was. He was rushing the woman to the hospital."

The couple's premature baby was delivered afterwards but died a day later.

Acevedo fled the scene but was arrested four days later in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

He told the New York Daily News he was attempting to get away from a gunman who was trying to shoot at him.

He had previously served about 10 years in prison in the 1990s for manslaughter after being convicted of shooting the infamous Brooklyn gang member Kelvin Martin - known as the original "50 Cent".

Acevedo has pleaded not guilty to three counts of vehicular manslaughter.

He is facing life in prison.

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Prague Explosion Leaves People Trapped

A powerful explosion in the centre of Prague has injured at least 13 people and left others buried under rubble, police say.

Spokesman Tomas Hulan said it is not immediately clear what caused the blast in Divadelni Street on Monday morning.

The street is covered with rubble from a damaged building and has been sealed off by police.

Windows in buildings located hundreds of metres from the blast were shattered, including some in the nearby National Theatre.

More follows ...

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