Probation Reforms Slammed By Campaigners

Government plans to make every convict leaving prison spend at least a year under supervision in the community have been branded "unworkable" by a leading campaign group.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has announced all offenders who enter prison, even for just a few days, will be subject to the new policy.

Each will be given support into housing, employment, training and substance abuse programmes.

But Mark Gettleson, from the Howard League for Penal Reform, said there was no money to pay for the changes - which he said would merely exacerbate a failing system.

"We think it's wholly unworkable and the wrong solution to the problem," he said.

"It's an admission of abject failure on the part of the Government with regard to short-term prison sentences. It is clear from every piece of evidence ever presented that times in custody of less than a year are a total failure."

He described the 58% reconviction rate for short-term prison sentences as "dismal"  - compared to 34% for community sentences, which he said came in at 10th of the cost of jail terms.

"Rather than ... actually looking at alternatives that work, or that work a lot better, like community sentences, the Government is going to bolt on a period of unfunded probation support to those failing sentences," he said.

The reforms, to be rolled out across England and Wales by 2015, will see around 65,000 offenders, serving sentences of up to two years, receive extended rehabilitation.

The changes form part of the Government's so-called 'rehabilitation revolution', which will see a greater role for private and voluntary sector organisations, who will be paid by results to reduce re-offending.

Mr Grayling said: "It is simply not good enough that we spend £4bn a year on prisons and probation, and yet make no real dent in the appetite of offenders to commit more crime.

"It is little wonder when many of our most prolific criminals leave prison totally unsupervised in the community.

"These reforms are essential and will ensure that offenders are properly punished but also given targeted support to help them turn away from crime for good."

Shadow Justice Secretary Sadiq Khan said: "This is another wasted chance by the Government - it should have pursued a model that focused on evidence of what works to reduce re-offending.

"Instead it has obsessively pursued pet projects leading to the imposition of an untried and untested payment by results model on the probation service which will take big risks with public safety and taxpayers' money."

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Ohio Kidnap: Ariel Castro Charged By Police

A man has been charged in Ohio with kidnap and rape after police revealed his three alleged victims had only been let out of the house twice in 10 years.

Ariel Castro, 52, was held after Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight, as well as Miss Berry's six-year-old daughter, were freed from the house in Cleveland.

He has been charged with four counts of kidnapping and three of rape. The rape charges do not relate to the child.

The women are believed to have only been allowed to leave the home briefly on two occasions, both times to go "into the garage in disguise", deputy police chief Ed Tomba told a news conference.

"They were in that home. They don't believe they've been outside of the home for the last 10 years.

A police officer outside Ariel Castro's home in Cleveland

"They were not in one room, but they did know each other and they did know each other was there."

He refused to comment on reports that the women had become pregnant on several occasions and had lost the babies.

Castro's two brothers - Pedro, 54, and Onil, 50 - were also detained on Monday but are not expected to be charged in connection with the kidnapping.

"There is nothing that leads us to believe that they were involved or had any knowledge of this," Mr Tomba said. "We found no facts to link them to the crime."

Tomba refused to discuss specifics of evidence discovered in the home, but earlier, city police chief Michael McGrath had said the women were "bound and there were chains and ropes in the hall".

People embrace outside Gina DeJesus' home after she was freed

Miss Berry, Miss DeJesus, and Miss Knight were aged 16, 14 and 20 respectively when they went missing around a decade ago.

All three were rescued when Miss Berry, now 27, alerted a neighbour who helped them escape.

Miss Berry and Miss DeJesus, 23, have been welcomed back at their homes with balloons and banners, while crowds cheered as they were reunited with their families.

Sandra Ruiz, an aunt of Miss DeJesus, said there were "not enough words to express the joy we feel at the return of our family member, Gina".

Miss Berry's sister, Beth Serrano, thanked the public for their "support and courage over the years".

Miss Knight is yet to appear in public. The 32-year-old is understood to be in a good condition at a local hospital.

Following criticism of the police handling of the case, Mr McGrath said he was "absolutely" sure officers did everything they could to find the women and disputed claims from neighbours that officials had been called to the property previously when suspicions were raised.

Ariel Castro is expected to appear in court later.

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Queen's Speech: Immigration Set To Dominate

Measures to combat immigration and schemes to help businesses are to feature among the Goverment's priorities due to be outlined in the Queen's Speech.

David Cameron says the new policies - including a crackdown on foreign criminals and rogue employers who take on illegal migrants - will back the people of Britain "every step of the way".

The agenda for the next session of Parliament will also see powers strengthened to deport foreign criminals by preventing the abuse of human rights laws.

The Prime Minister and his deputy Nick Clegg will say in a joint foreword to the speech: "In May 2010 we came together to govern in the national interest.

"We knew the road ahead would be tough and so it has proved to be.

"But three years on, our resolve to turn our country around has never been stronger. We know that Britain can be great again because we've got the people to do it.

"Today's Queen's Speech shows that we will back them every step of the way. It is all about backing people who work hard and want to get on in life."

While the 163,000 migrants came to the UK in the year to June 2012 - down from 247,000 in the previous year - Mr Cameron has said he aims to reduce the figure to tens of thousands.

A new Immigration Bill will write into law rules to ensure the Article 8 human right to a family life does not prevent courts from balancing the crime against the perpetrator's right to remain in the country.

Firms exploiting illegal labour will face stiffer fines, as will private landlords if they fail to check on tenants' immigration status.

Incomers' access to NHS services will be regulated and temporary migrants will be expected to make a contribution.

Shadow Commons leader Angela Eagle said: "We will look at measures on immigration. But the truth is over the last three years they have failed on immigration as they have failed in so many other areas.

David Cameron and Nick Clegg admit the last three years have been "tough"

"And at the same time, there is one group that is decisively better off: the richest in society."

Also due to be announced is a National Insurance Contributions Bill implementing to cut the cost of recruiting new employees and a Deregulation Bill to cut red tape for firms looking to grow.

A Social Care Bill will cap care costs, in a bid to avoid pensioners being forced to sell their homes.

Meanwhile, a Pensions Bill will create a flat-rate pension, which ministers claim will encourage saving and help women who have had long career breaks.

Measures notable for their absence include mooted plans to force cigarettes to be sold in plain packaging and those to set a minimum price for alcohol.

Aid agencies are also angry the Government will again not enshrine in law its commitment to meet the United Nations target to devote 0.7% of GDP to aid spending.

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Ohio Women Found: Police Praise Amanda Berry

Three brothers have been arrested after three women who went missing separately about a decade ago in Cleveland, Ohio, were found alive in the same house.

Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michele Knight disappeared in nearby areas of the city between 2002 and 2004. Officers believe they were tied up during years of being held captive.

The three, who vanished in their teens or early 20s, were rescued after a neighbour heard Ms Berry screaming and went to help her.

Police hailed her "bravery" and the said the women's actions were the "ultimate definition of survival and perseverance".

The suspects arrested in connection with the kidnappings have been named as Ariel, Pedro and Onil Castro, aged 52, 54 and 50.

Suspects (L-R) brothers Ariel Castro, Onil Castro and Pedro Castro

The property from where the women made their dramatic escape to freedom was just a few miles from where they vanished.

The women appeared to be in good health and were released from hospital after being taken there for checks and have been reunited with their families.

Authorities said they had no intelligence the trio were in the house, and police believe a six-year-old girl also found at the property is Ms Berry's daughter.

Forensics and FBI teams have been carrying out an extensive search of the property, where police sources reportedly quoted in the local media believe the women were repeatedly beaten and raped, and that there were five pregnancies.

Ms Berry in hospital with her sister and a young girl also found with her

FBI special agent Stephen Anthony said: "The nightmare is over. These three young ladies have provided us with the ultimate definition of survival and perseverance. The healing can now begin.

"The families of these three ladies never gave up hope, and neither did law enforcement. As you can imagine, words can't describe the emotions being felt by all."

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson said there were still "several unanswered questions" about the case, and authorities stressed that as the investigation was on going, many facts could not be discussed.

Police revealed they went to the home in 2004 for an unrelated investigation when school bus driver Ariel Castro had apparently left a child unattended on a bus, but no-one answered the door.

Officers also visited the property in 2000 when Ariel Castro reported a fight in the street, but no arrests were made.

A poster with images of Amanda Berry

Sky's US correspondent Dominic Waghorn, at the scene, said: "Neighbours say there were some unusual things about Ariel Castro - the fact that he keeps his ground floor windows boarded up with plywood ... and he used to park his school bus here during the day just to drop in and check on something, but never explained why.

"But they say he seemed such a good man, and a good neighbour, they never suspected anything."

Elsie Cintron, who lived two doors away, told Sky News that a family member saw "a naked woman crawling on her hands and knees" in the backyard of the Cleveland house where the women were found and called police, and that she saw a young girl at the attic window.

Cleveland officials said Tuesday that they had no record of anyone calling about criminal activity at the house but that they were still combing their records.

Ms Berry, who was 16 at the time, disappeared on April 21, 2003, when she called her sister to say she was getting a lift home from her job at a Burger King outlet.

Gina DeJesus went missing on her way home from school

Ms DeJesus went missing aged 14 on her way home from school about a year after Ms Berry's disappearance.

The third woman, Ms Knight, had been missing since 2002. She is believed to have been 20 at the time.

The long nightmare for the trio ended when Ms Berry reached through a crack in the front door and called for help.

Neighbour Charles Ramsey heard her screaming and tried to get her out through the door, but could not pull it open.

So he kicked the bottom open and she crawled through carrying a little girl.

Another neighbour Anna Tejeda said Ms Berry was nervous and crying, and dressed in pyjamas and old sandals.

Balloons outside the home of Gina DeJesus

Ms Tejeda said she gave her telephone to Ms Berry, who then called police.

In a recording of the 911 call, she told the emergency dispatcher: "I'm Amanda Berry. I've been kidnapped. I've been missing for 10 years. I'm free. I'm here now."

She said she had been taken by someone - and begged officers to arrive at the home on Cleveland's west side "before he gets back".

When police arrived, they found the two other women who were allegedly being held captive. They were also rescued.

Mr Ramsey explained how he rescued Ms Berry, saying: "I hear this girl screaming and she's going nuts.

"So I come outside and I know there's nobody supposed to be screaming next door to my house because there's no girl that lives in that house.

Charles Ramsey, the neighbour who helped Amanda Berry escape

"When I came to the front door and looked at her she said 'My name is Amanda Berry - please get me out of this house'.

"She told the police, 'I ain't just only one, there's some more girls up in that house. So they go on up there ... and when they came out it was just astonishing."

Kayla Rogers, a childhood friend of Ms DeJesus, told The Plain Dealer newspaper: "I've been praying, never forgot about her, ever.

"This is amazing. This is a celebration. I'm so happy. I just want to see her walk out of those doors so I can hug her."

The rescue is the latest in a series of high-profile cases involving females being held captive for several years.

The three women disappeared in nearby areas of the city

Jaycee Dugard was found on August 26, 2009, 18 years after she was kidnapped aged 11 in California.

She had been seized by Phillip Garrido - and his wife Nancy - while on her way to school in South Lake Tahoe in June 1991, and was kept in a hidden backyard and had two children with him. The Garridos were jailed for life.

Reacting to the escape of the Cleveland trio, she said in in a statement: "These individuals need the opportunity to heal and connect back in the world. This isn't who they are. It is only what happened to them.

"The human spirit is resilient. More than ever this reaffirms we should never give up hope."

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Father And Daughter Die In Speedboat Tragedy

A 51-year-old man and his eight-year-old daughter were killed and four other members of their family airlifted to hospital after a speedboat accident, police have confirmed.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the family from London was on holiday in Cornwall over the Bank Holiday weekend when the accident happened in the Camel Estuary near Padstow.

A 39-year-old woman, a four-year-old boy and two girls aged 10 and 12 were airlifted to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, where they are being treated for "a range of injuries, some of which are life changing," police said.

The boat was powered by a high speed petrol outboard engine

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) had said in a statement: "Falmouth Coastguard was first contacted at 15.48 this afternoon reporting that six people had been thrown from a speedboat approximately half a mile off Padstow."

MCA spokeswoman Jo Rawlings told Sky News: "It is believed the boat was out of control."

South Western Ambulance Service had earlier said it was thought that the speedboat hit some kayakers near the popular holiday resort, however this was subsequently ruled out by the MCA.

The tragedy happened off Padstow in Cornwall

The MCA said: "We do not believe at this time any other vessels, kayaks or people were involved in this incident, other than those in the speedboat."

Two people were dead when the ambulance service arrived.

Ambulance service spokesman John Oliver said the injured suffered leg injuries of various degrees of severity.

RNLI lifeboats from both Padstow and nearby Rock were launched as part of the rescue operation, and search and rescue helicopters from two naval bases were also ordered to attend the scene.

Witnesses claimed heroic actions by passers-by prevented more lives being lost.

Police tape cordons off the boat for examination

Writing on Facebook, Maria Chase said: "We were down in Padstow today and saw the tragedy and saw a hero who saved more lives by jumping on to an out-of-control speedboat from another boat."

Charlotte Jacobs took to Twitter to write to the RNLI, saying: "We witnessed incredible bravery in Padstow today during the tragic accident that unfolded. The men involved deserve medals."

Chef Paul Ainsworth wrote on Twitter: "Very sad day in Padstow, our hearts go out to all family and friends involved. Life can be so cruel."

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White Britons 'In Retreat' From Minority Areas

A "retreat" of white Britons from areas where minorities live is limiting cultural integration, according to research by think tank Demos.

Analysis of the 2011 Census shows that 45% of ethnic minorities in England and Wales live in areas where less than half the population is white British, while 41% live in wards that are less than half white.

Trevor Phillips, former chairman of the Equalities Commission and Demos Associate, said white Britons choosing not to live in minority-dominated areas "ought to make us a little anxious".

He said: "This very interesting piece of research reveals a number of vital findings about how people in England and Wales are living together.

"What ought to make us a little anxious is the 'majority retreat' it has unearthed – white people leaving minority-led areas and not being replaced - which isn't good news for the cause of integration."

The 4.1 million ethnic minorities who now live in white minority areas is a significant increase from the 2001 Census, when only around one million minority Britons lived in such wards.

A statement from Demos said: "Demos researchers attribute this mainly to white British people choosing not to move to minority-dominated areas, in what Trevor Phillips has described as "majority retreat".

"In these areas, departing white British are replaced by immigration or by the natural growth of the minority population. Over time, the end result of this process is a spiral of white British demographic decline."

But integration between ethnic minorities is now more common than it was during the last census in 2001.

Demos said minority white areas were generally multi-minority, since new British minorities such as Somalis have taken up housing vacated by established minorities, such as Afro-Caribbeans.

David Goodhart, director of Demos, said the limited integration would lead to further problems with employment and familiarity with cultural codes.

Meanwhile Sir Andrew Green, Chairman of Migration Watch said the findings were a sign that Britain is becoming more segregated.

He said: "This is extremely serious. It is undeniable evidence that we have indeed been sleepwalking into segregation as Trevor Phillips warned seven years ago and it is the clear result of Labour's mass immigration policy."

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Nigel Evans Arrested For Rape And Sex Assault

The Deputy Speaker, Nigel Evans, has been released without charge after being arrested on suspicion of rape and sexual assault of two men.

The 55-year-old Conservative, a prominent gay rights campaigner, was arrested on Saturday morning at his constituency home in the village of Pendleton, near Clitheroe, in Lancashire.

He was questioned by police over an allegation of raping one man and sexually assaulting another between July 2009 and March 2013.

After several hours in police custody in Preston, Mr Evans was released on police bail with no charge and asked to return to the police station on June 19.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Speaker John Bercow have been informed of the arrest of the popular MP.

Sky News Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said: "The allegations are one of rape against one man and sexual assault against another man. Both of those men are now in their early 20s."

Mr Evans is a popular and sociable MP

He said: "The offences are said to have been committed at his home in the village of Pendleton near Clitheroe which is in his constituency of Ribble Valley."

Mr Evans, who comes from Swansea and whose parents ran a newsagent, has been MP for Ribble Valley since 1992.

Michael Ranson, the chairman of the Ribble Valley Conservative Association, told Sky News: "He is a very popular MP and a very good constituency MP. He's given assistance to a lot of his constituents over many years.

"Everybody's completely shell-shocked."

Brian Binley, Tory MP for Northampton South and a friend of Mr Evans, said: "I was just deeply disturbed and shocked.

"I've known him ever since I've been in Parliament and I came in in 2005. I consider him to be a very good friend. I know him to be caring, compassionate and in no way would he inflict himself violently on any other person."

Mr Evans has held a number of front bench posts for the Conservative Party and was a Parliamentary Private Secretary in John Major's government and Mr Major's spokesman for Welsh Affairs.

Mr Evans became Deputy Speaker in 2010

In 2010 he became one of three deputy speakers, earning £102,000-a-year, including his MP's salary.

In December 2010 he came out as gay in an interview with the Mail on Sunday newspaper in which he said that he was "tired of living a lie".

Mr Evans, who was vice chairman of the Conservative Party from 1999 to 2001, said he had been threatened with exposure by political opponents.

Sky News Chief Political Correspondent Jon Craig said: "Since then he has become quite a prominent gay rights campaigner.

"He had held, for example, at least one function in the Speaker's apartments on gay rights. John Bercow let him use the Speaker's apartment for a function and he has been prominent in that campaign.

"He is a very sociable MP. He is very well known."

A villager who lives opposite the MP and who did not want to give her name said: "I am shocked. I like him. He is a good MP and he has done a lot for the Ribble Valley. Obviously he is well known in the village and goes to the local pub a lot."

Another Pendleton resident, who also did not want to give his name, said: "It's unbelievable, I know him very well. He is an excellent person and I would stand by him 100%."

A Lancashire Police statement confirmed that a 55-year-old man from Pendleton had been been arrested on suspicion of rape and sexual assault and that he was being interviewed by officers.

The statement said: "We take all allegations of a sexual nature extremely seriously and understand how difficult it can be for victims to have the confidence to come forward.

"As a constabulary, we are committed to investigating sexual offences sensitively but robustly recognising the impact that these types of crimes have on victims.

"We would encourage anyone who has experienced sexual abuse, or who has information about it, to have the confidence to report it to us knowing that we will take it seriously, deal with it sensitively and investigate it thoroughly."

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'Israel Rocket Strike' On Syria Military Site

Israeli missiles have struck a military research centre near the capital Damascus, setting off explosions, Syrian state television has said.

The rockets were said to have struck a military research centre in Jamraya on the outskirts of the capital in the early hours of this morning.

The building was the target of an earlier Israeli strike in January.

Israel has declined to comment on the latest attack, but a Western intelligence source said "stores of Fateh-110 missiles that were in transit from Iran to Hizbollah" were the target of the strike.

Video footage uploaded online by activists claims to show a huge ball of fire rising into the night sky.

More of the unverified footage uploaded by activists

Meanwhile, hundreds of families are fleeing a Syrian coastal area where activists say government troops have massacred nearly 200, many of whom were women and children.

The opponents of Bashar al Assad's regime say that fighters loyal to the President carried out two massacres last night and on Thursday in a Sunni Muslim area driving by a policy of ethnic cleansing.

Activists posted a video online of the bodies of 10 people it said were killed in Ras al Nabaa, in the city of Banias, in an attack overnight.

Half of them were children.

Activists said that the number of dead could be as high as 60.

It comes just two days after pro-Assad militias are alleged to have killed as many as 100 Sunnis in the nearby village of Baida.

Protests in Banias at the beginning of the uprising in 2011

Amateur video showed a man and at least three children dead inside a room.

A baby had burned legs and a body stained with blood. Next to him was a young girl whose face had been deformed after apparently being hit with sharp metal.

Other footage from activists showed entire families killed in their beds, a dead mother cradling her child in her arms, two toddlers lying next to them.

The videos have not been independently verified.

Syria's crisis, that began in March 2011 with pro-democracy protests and later turned into a civil war that has killed an estimated 70,000 people, has largely broken along sectarian lines.

The Sunni majority forms the backbone of the rebellion, while Mr Assad's minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam, anchors the regime's security services and the military's officer corps.

Syria's crisis has claimed the lives of an estimated 70,000 people

Other minorities, such as Christians, largely support Mr Assad or stand on the sidelines, worried that the regime's fall would bring about a more Islamist rule.

It has been estimated as many as 4,000 people are fleeing from the predominantly Sunni southern parts of the Mediterranean city of Banias amid fears of further large-scale killings.

It added that security forces had been checking identity cards and sending people back to Banias so that things would appear normal.

The US today condemned the May 2 attack. State Department spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said: "We strongly condemn atrocities against the civilian population and reinforce our solidarity with the Syrian people."

Her statement added: "The United States is appalled by horrific reports that more than 100 people were killed May 2 in gruesome attacks on the coastal town of Bayda, Syria.

"Regime and Shabiha forces reportedly destroyed the area with mortar fire then stormed the town and executed entire families, including women and children."

It came as Israeli officials confirmed the country's air force carried out a strike against Syria, saying it targeted a shipment of advanced missiles bound for the Lebanese militant group Hizbollah.

The violence in the coastal region shows the sectarian nature of the two-year conflict that has killed tens of thousands and sent more than a million Syrians as refugees to neighbouring countries.

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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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US Officials: Israel Launches Airstrike Into Syria

US officials say Israel has launched an airstrike into Syria, apparently targeting a suspected weapons site.

They believe the strike hit a warehouse, but it does not appear that a chemical weapons site was targeted.

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

But the US does not believe Israeli warplanes entered Syrian airspace to conduct the strikes, the TV news station added.

Israel has targeted weapons in the past that it believes are being delivered to the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah.

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

Israeli Embassy spokesman Aaron Sagui said he could not comment on the report, but said Israel is determined to prevent the transfer of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime to terrorists.

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

The reports 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.

Speaking during a visit to Costa Rica, the 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."

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

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

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 Shi'ite Islam and the sect of President Assad, while the insurgents battling to topple his regime are mainly Sunni Muslims.

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Local Council Elections: UKIP Make Big Gains

The Conservatives have lost control of two English local authorities as the UK Independence Party made stunning electoral gains.

Nigel Farage's party made became the second largest party in Lincolnshire as the Conservatives lost control of the authority.

UKIP also claimed second place behind Labour in the South Shields parliamentary by-election, with the two coalition parties suffering a drubbing.

A UKIP spokesman said the party was "delighted" and on course to win "well over" 100 seats, with counting still to take place in 28 English authorities and the Isle of Anglesey in Wales.

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."

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.

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

:: Essex

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

New UKIP councillors said they hoped their success would send a message to Downing Street from the home of Basildon Man - long held as symbol of unwavering Tory support.

Conservatives have dominated Essex County Council since 1958 and, with 59 of the 75 seats going into the election, it was always a case of their grip being loosened rather than lost.

:: Hampshire

UKIP have gained 10 seats at Hampshire County Council, reducing the Conservatives' grip on the local authority. The Tories' number of seats was reduced from 51 to 45 while the Liberal Democrats also saw their numbers fall from 24 to 17.

Labour fared better by increasing the number of councillors from one to four. The Green Party lost its only seat on the council and independents gained the remaining two of the 78 seats.

:: Gloucestershire

The Conservatives have lost control of Gloucestershire County Council but remain the largest party with 23 seats. The Liberal Democrats have 14 seats, Labour nine and Ukip took three seats.

The Tories remain the largest party overall with 23 councillors, down 17 in a county where there have been boundary changes since the seats were last fought in 2009.

Labour gained four seats and Ukip three, with the Liberal Democrats unchanged on 14. Independents and others had four seats.

:: Somerset

The Conservatives have held onto Somerset.

:: Lincolnshire Boston

The Tories were held to "Ransome" as a mother and two daughters celebrated three UKIP gains in Boston, Lincolnshire. Sue Ransome, 61, and her daughters Felicity and Elizabeth Ransome, 27 and 26, gained three seats in tonight's elections in Boston.

The mother of four took the Boston East seat with 675 votes while Felicity took Boston Coastal with 826 votes and Elizabeth took Boston Fishtoft with 837 votes.

Her husband Ron stood for Boston South, along with their daughter Jodie Sutton, 36, in Boston Rural - both came second.

Two more UKIP candidates - Tiggs Keywood-Wainwright and Bob McAuley - also took Boston North West and Boston West respectively from the Tories.

It was a stunning night for the party, which won five of seven Lincolnshire County Council divisions and a Boston Borough Council by-election.

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South Shields: Labour Win As UKIP Surge

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

Conservative Karen Allen received just 11.55% of the vote

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."

Thousands of local authority seats have been up for grabs

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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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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Boston Bombing: Three New Suspects Charged

Three college friends of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev have been charged by police investigating the attacks.

Azamat Tazhayakov and Dias Kadyrbayev are charged with conspiring to obstruct justice. A third man, Robel Phillipos, is charged with making false statements to federal investigators.

The suspects are accused of removing a backpack containing fireworks emptied of gunpowder from Tsarnaev's dorm room three days after the bombings.

In court papers, the FBI said Tazhayakov and Kadyrbayev agreed to throw the backpack in the garbage after concluding from news reports that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was one of the bombers.

Law enforcement officers later found the backpack in a landfill.

Police have been investigating if suspects the Tsarnaev brothers had help

Tazhayakov and Kadyrbayev, who came to the US from Kazakhstan, have been held in jail for more than a week on allegations they violated their student visas while attending college.

There is also information that Tazhayakov was allowed to re-enter the US in January from Kazakhstan despite not having a valid student visa.

The Kazakhs waived bail during an initial court appearance on Wednesday. They are scheduled to appear in court again on May 14.

Phillipos, a US citizen, is being held pending a detention and probable cause hearing scheduled for Monday.

The suspects are seen being led from a police van

Attorneys for Kadyrbayev and Tazhayakov told reporters on Wednesday their clients did not know the items they removed from Tsarnaev's room were linked to the attacks.

Tazhayakov's attorney, Harlan Protass, said: "My client feels horrible and was shocked to hear that someone he knew was involved in the bombings."

Kadyrbayev's lawyer, Robert Stahl, said his client "absolutely denies the charges".

Police recovered these fireworks from a Boston-area landfill

Both men face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, the US Justice Department said.

Phillipos faces up to eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

All three men, aged 19, began attending the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth with Tsarnaev at the same time in 2011, according to the FBI.

The university said in a statement that Tazhayakov has been suspended "pending the outcome of the case". The school said Phillipos and Kadyrbayev are not currently enrolled.

The trio were not accused of any involvement in the bombing itself. But in a footnote in the court papers, the FBI said that about a month before the bombing, Tsarnaev told Tazhayakov and Kadyrbayev that he knew how to make a bomb.

Three people were killed and more than 260 injured on April 15 when two bombs exploded near the finish line.

Flowers placed on the pavement at the site of the first blast

Suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev died after a gunfight with police several days later. His brother Dzhokhar was captured and lies in a hospital prison.

The surviving brother, 19, faces federal charges of using a weapon of mass destruction and malicious destruction of property resulting in death over the double bombing.

Authorities say the brothers also killed an MIT police officer as they tried to escape, although no charges have been filed yet over his death.

The White House and investigators have previously suggested that the Tsarnaevs could have acted alone, without ties to any foreign government or terrorist organisation.

But law enforcement authorities have kept a close watch on some of the brothers' contacts as they try to establish whether they had any help.

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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, 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 snow storm 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.

Writing on Facebook before his departure, Mr Goodeve-Docker said: "On the 19th April 2013 I will be in Greenland preparing to cross the 2nd largest icecap in world.

"For the next 30-35 days a 3 man team, including myself, fellow adventurer Andy Norman, and led by my polar explorer friend Roan Hackney, will attempt to cross Greenland's icesheet unsupported.

Greenland presents one of the most challenging terrains on earth

"We will travel 550-600km across one of the most dazzling, beautiful, yet barren and deadly landscapes in the world, dragging all our own supplies (between 100-135kg) on individual pulks (sleds).

"This is one of the great polar challenges, through which we face such dangers as polar bears (not cute and cuddly), crevasses up to 500+metres deep, polar winds, temperatures of 5C to -50C, plus the horror of 3 men with one tent & no washing."

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 Kandahar province in Afghanistan.

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