Kids Growing Up 'In Toxic Stress Climate'

Britain's youngsters are growing up in an "unprecedented toxic climate" of stress and pressure in a "24/7 online culture where they can never switch off", according to a survey by charity YoungMinds.

In the poll of 2,000 youngsters aged 11 to 25, over half believed they would be a failure if they did not get good grades, half said they had been bullied, while a third said they did not know where to turn to get help when they feel depressed or anxious.

Of the 11-14-year-olds questioned, four in 10 said they skipped meals to try to stay thin and over half said they had viewed online pornography with four out of 10 of these saying it had affected their relationships with others of their age.

Lucie Russell, director of campaigns at YoungMinds, said: "We are sitting on a mental health timebomb."

Frankie Sandford, of The Saturdays, and Labour leader Ed Miliband are among those backing YoungMinds' new campaign YoungMinds Vs, which is calling for improvements across a range of issues that young people say are the biggest they face.

Frankie Sandford is backing new campaign

Ms Sandford said: "I get to talk to a lot of young people and I know there are so many who are really suffering and struggling with life.

"That's why I really support the YoungMinds Vs campaign because it's raising awareness of the importance of young people having good mental health, and everything that can be done to make that happen, including young people getting access to help when they need it."

Mr Miliband added: "Mental health is the biggest unaddressed health challenge of our age, and young people's mental health must be a top priority for Britain."

Nick Clegg will launch the Mental Health Action Plan

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is pledging to improve the standards of mental health treatment for people of all ages and to end the stigma and discrimination faced by those with mental health issues.

He will give a speech later today launching the Government's new Mental Health Action Plan, which sets out 25 areas where immediate action is called for to improve care, support and treatment.

He will say: "All too often, attitudes to mental health are outdated; stuck in the dark ages; full of stigma and stereotypes.

"It's time for us to bring mental health out of the shadows and to give people with mental health conditions the support they need and deserve."

Mr Clegg will note that mental illness costs the economy £105bn every year and that life expectancy for a man with severe mental illness is reduced by 20 years compared to the rest of the population and 15 years for a woman.

He will say people with mental health issues ill have the same legal right as those with physical conditions to choose where they go for care, including being able to choose the person and provider from April.

The choice will not be limited to an NHS organisation, and that patients will also be able to choose from a voluntary or independent provider offering services on the NHS when they go to see their GP to seek help, he will add.

New standards on access and waiting times for mental health services are also to be introduced next year, so that patients will know what kind of treatment to expect and when.

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Mikaeel Kular's Mother Due In Edinburgh Court

The mother of three-year-old Mikaeel Kular will appear in an Edinburgh court this morning to face charges in connection with his death.

Rosdeep Kular, 33, reported that her son was missing from their home last Thursday morning.

Police found Mikaeel's body in an area of woodland in Kirkcaldy in neighbouring Fife late on Friday.

The discovery followed a major investigation after Mikaeel was reported missing from the home in Ferry Gait Crescent, in the Scottish capital.

Police and local volunteers carried out an extensive search for the boy in north Edinburgh, often in bad weather and cold temperatures.

Candle and floral tributes seen on Ferry Gait Crescent in Edinburgh

Members of the public also made more than 500 calls to a dedicated phone line set up in the wake of Mikaeel's disappearance.

Police Scotland said on Saturday night that a 33-year-old woman had been arrested and charged in connection with the boy's death.

Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham said: "Following formal identification, I can now confirm that a 33-year-old woman has been arrested and charged in connection with Mikaeel's death.

"The woman is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday."

Mikaeel's body was found around 30 miles from the family home in Edinburgh

A memorial service took place on Saturday night at Edinburgh's St Andrew's Muirhouse Parish Church.

Candles were given out at the door before the service, which was open only to the local community.

Meanwhile, there have been several arrests over suspected offensive tweets in relation to Mikaeel's disappearance.

Derbyshire Police arrested a 26-year-old man, while Hampshire Police said a 19-year-old man had been bailed on suspicion of posting a racially offensive comment.

"We are investigating the message to assess whether any criminal offences have been committed," said a spokesman for Hampshire Police.

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Mikaeel Kular's Mother Charged Over His Death

The mother of three-year-old Mikaeel Kular has been arrested in connection with his death.

Rosdeep Kular, 33, is due to appear in court on Monday.

The boy's body was discovered in woodland near a house in Kirkcaldy, Fife, early on Saturday, following a major search.

People file into a memorial service in Edinburgh on Saturday evening

The body was removed from the scene at around 3pm on Saturday afternoon.

Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham said: "During the course of today, the investigation into the disappearance of Mikaeel Kular has continued at pace.

"Following formal identification, I can now confirm that a 33-year-old woman has been arrested and charged in connection with Mikaeel's death.

The body was found around 30 miles from Mikaeel's family home in Edinburgh

"The woman is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday."

A memorial service is also taking place on Saturday night at Edinburgh's St Andrew's Muirhouse Parish Church.

Candles were given out at the door before the service, which was open only to the local community.

Forensics officers have been examining an area of woodland

The family lived there for a time before moving to Edinburgh and neighbours remember Mikaeel and his twin sister playing on the steps.

Mikaeel was reported missing from his home in the Scottish capital on Thursday morning.

Hundreds of police officers from across the UK joined the search and lines of volunteers swept the local area, searching for clues about his disappearance.

Neighbours have been leaving flowers and toys near the family home

Police were told that Mikaeel had not been seen since his mother put him to bed on Wednesday night.

On Friday evening ACC Graham revealed the boy had not attended nursery since before Christmas and said there were "grave concerns" for his safety.

Police Scotland are also investigating an offensive Twitter comment relating to the case, which originated in the Greater Manchester area and was reported by an Edinburgh resident.

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British Man Murdered In St Lucia Attack

A British man has been murdered while trying to protect his wife from attackers on the island of St Lucia.

Three people are in custody and a murder inquiry launched after the death of Roger Pratt, 62.

The couple were attacked while their boat was moored off the Vieux Fort coast where they had been staying as part of a round-the-world voyage, celebrating Margaret's 60th birthday.

They left Lowestoft in June, navigating the English coastline before heading to the Algarve and on to the Caribbean.

A St Lucian police spokesman confirmed Mr Pratt died trying to defend his wife from attackers, but said there was no evidence the man was shot.

The attack happened at Vieux Fort

He said: "Nobody has been arrested yet but there are some guys in custody. The investigators are very busy looking at what happened."

St Lucian tourism minister Lorne Theophilus said: "It is with much regret that I and other industry partners have learnt of the unfortunate incident which has resulted in the loss of life of a visitor to our shores.

"At this time we extend our sincerest condolences to the family of British national Roger Pratt. To his wife, who also sustained injuries as a result of the attack off the Vieux Fort coast, we extend our deepest sympathies. Our prayers are with her for a speedy recovery.

"This is an active investigation and law enforcement is leading the charge in an attempt to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice speedily.

"Law enforcement officials have briefed myself and other senior tourism officials on aspects of the case although I am not at liberty to share some of those details with you at this time."

St Lucia is very popular with tourists (File pic)

The couple lived in the village of Moreton Morrell in Warwickshire before embarking on their adventure.

Writing on her blog in the hours before the attack, Mrs Pratt told how bureaucracy thwarted their attempts to leave that part of the Caribbean.

She said: "On Thursday morning the plan was to clear out from Soufriere, then to travel south and use up the 72 hours before we had to be away.

"But bureaucracy intervened. HM Customs and Excise in Soufriere told us that exit had to happen within 24 hours of clearing out; and that anyway, we couldn't clear out of Soufriere that day because the Immigration Officer hadn't come to work(!!)

"So here we are in Vieux Fort, the most southerly port of clearance in St Lucia. It's very different. There's a port; an airport and no tourists - and so it's a regular town."

Writing on her LinkedIn profile before she left, Mrs Pratt said: "Off travelling! The plan is to be in the Caribbean for my 60th birthday in January 2014... all a bit of a leap into the unknown. Please stay in touch - I plan to be an assiduous correspondent!"

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Briton Killed In Afghanistan Suicide Attack

A British national has been killed in a bomb blast and gun attack in the Afghan capital Kabul.

The Briton was among 16 people who died when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a restaurant and two gunmen sneaked in through a back door and opened fire.

The gunmen are believed to have been shot dead by security forces when they arrived at the scene.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "We can confirm the death of a British national and we stand ready to provide consular assistance to the family."

The Taliban said it carried out the attack on La Taverna du Liban, a restaurant popular with foreigners and wealthy Afghans alike.

The blast happened at a heavily secured restaurant in the Afghan capital

It described the building as a "foreign hotel" and said the blast targeted "high-ranking German officials" it described as "foreign invaders".

The German foreign ministry said it was looking into the claims, while Ari Gaitanis, a spokesman for the UN, said at least four of its employees remained unaccounted for.

Kebab cook Abdul Majid, who suffered leg fractures in the blast, said: "I was sitting with my friends in the kitchen when an explosion happened and smoke filled the kitchen.

"A man came inside shouting and he started shooting. One of my colleagues was shot and fell down. I ran to the roof and threw myself to the neighbouring property."

Like many places that are popular with diplomats, aid workers and businessmen in Afghanistan, the restaurant has no signs indicating its location and is heavily secured.

It has no windows, bags of dirt are piled up outside to act as blast walls and guests are searched before entering the premises.

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Mikaeel's Mum Detained As Body Discovered

Police searching for missing three-year-old Mikaeel Kular have found the body of a young boy.

Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham announced the discovery just after 1am at a hastily convened news conference.

The body was found shortly before midnight, he said.

One person has been detained in connection with Mikaeel's disappearance, and Sky sources say it is Mikaeel's mother Rosdeep.

ACC Graham said: "The investigation into the disappearance of Mikaeel Kular has been wide-ranging and fast moving.

"As a result of enquiries the body of a young child was recovered in Fife just before midnight.

"We strongly believe this to be the body of Mikaeel.

"A person has been detained in connection with the recovery of the body and members of Mikaeel's family have been informed of the recovery."

The boy was reported missing on Thursday morning.

Police analyst Graham Wettone told Sky News: "(His mother) will be questioned as police try to establish what has taken place."

Hundreds of police officers from across the UK joined the search for Mikaeel and lines of volunteers swept the local area, searching for clues about his disappearance.

More follows...

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Mikaeel Kular: Search Enters Its Second Day

A major ground, air and sea search continues for a second day this morning for a three-year-old boy who has been missing from his home for around 24 hours.

Neighbours and emergency services searched through the night for Mikaeel Kular, who disappeared as his family slept in Edinburgh.

The child's mother put him to bed at around 9pm on Wednesday, only to find his room empty on Thursday morning.

A police helicopter, sniffer dogs, coastguard and lifeboat teams have been searching the area surrounding the flat he shares with four siblings in Ferry Gait Crescent.

Mikaeel went missing overnight on Wednesday

Forensic teams are examining a second address in a block of flats near his home.

Officers have also urged neighbours to check gardens, sheds, parks and lock-ups to find the missing boy.

The temperature in Edinburgh overnight dropped to around 3C.

Police Scotland has activated the Child Rescue Alert system, which is usually reserved for abduction and kidnap cases and supported by all police forces across the UK.

A major search operation is now into its second day

The search remains focused around the Drylaw, Pennywell, Muirhouse and Silverknowes areas of Edinburgh.

Superintendent Liz McAinsh said: "Our inquiries to trace Mikaeel have been ongoing for over 12 hours now and so far, we have still to receive that vital piece of information that will lead to his discovery."

Mikaeel, who has two sisters and two brothers, was discovered missing from his bed by his mother at around 7.15am on Thursday.

He usually sleeps in the same room as his twin sister but was alone on Wednesday night.

The boy may have left his home of his own accord

His jacket and shoes were missing and police are looking into whether he might have left of his own accord. They say there is currently no evidence of any criminal behaviour.

Mikaeel is slim, 2ft, of Asian appearance and possibly wearing a thigh-length beige hooded coat. He may also be wearing black gloves with multi-coloured fingers, dark navy blue jogging bottoms, a grey pyjama top with an embroidered turquoise dinosaur on the chest and brown Clarks shoes.

He has a faded scar on the bridge of his nose and a sore on the left hand side of his mouth.

Anyone with information can also contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Missing Mikaeel Kular: Residents Join Search

By Kat Storr, in Edinburgh

How far can a three year old boy get on his own? That's the question everyone I speak to on Ferry Gait Crescent is asking.

Mikaeel Kular has been missing for over 24 hours and his whole neighbourhood has come to a standstill.

Residents of the "normally quiet" area have joined police, some on horseback, and mountain rescue teams to search the local area.

One group of women told me they had been out since 9am scouring a golf course, beach and high street. They were carrying torches donated by the local branch of Tesco.

"You're looking in the same places, convinced you missed something the first time," one said.

Local residents have joined the hunt for the three-year-old

Two teenagers from a neighbouring estate said they wanted to help "to see if there was something we could do".

One said his mother had heard of a small girl nearby who had told of a "stranger tapping on her window".

Hedgerows were being scoured, the bins emptied and homes opened up to police.

No one is letting their hopes fade for the little boy, who is one of dozens of children that live in the street.

But with heavy security doors in the blocks of flats and CCTV cameras visible on every building, suspicions are being raised about whether Mikaeel could have walked out of his home on his own.

Police have launched a major search operation in the city

No new information about his whereabouts has emerged.

The weather in Edinburgh is freezing - the gritters are out on the streets.

In the city centre, people said they were shocked by Mikaeel's disappearance and are praying for him.

Back on Ferry Gait Crescent, residents will be up at first light to resume their search in the hope they can end what one man described as "every parent's worst nightmare".

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Margot Martini: Parents Launch Donor Days

The father of a one year old girl desperately sick with an extremely rare form of Leukaemia has told Sky News time is running out to find her a stem-cell donor.

Margot Martini's form of leukaemia is so rare her consultant haematologist has only seen three such cases in the last decade and her parents are making a world-wide appeal to find someone with the right tissue type to save her life.

A moving online appeal has prompted thousands of responses but the perfect match has still not been found for Margot, who is on her third round of chemotherapy since being diagnosed with the disease last year.

Margot with parents Vicki and Yasser and her two brothers

Her father Yasser told Sky News: "Margot needs to receive a stem-cell donation from someone with a similar tissue type as hers. So we are on a worldwide search for a donor - and unfortunately, without much luck to date."

Margot's form of leukaemia has "dual lineage", which means she has acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and acute myeloid leukaemia.

Her best chance of beating the disease is to undergo a bone marrow transplant, for which she needs to receive a stem cell donation from someone with a similar tissue type as hers.

Donors are urged to wear pink bracelets to raise awareness of her plight

But because her leukaemia is so rare it is particularly hard to find a stem-cell donor with the correct tissue type, as doctors are unable to target specific ethnic groups or communities.

Instead, Margot's parents are asking donors to come forward, by organising a national "donor drive", where volunteers register in the hope that among them doctors can find the perfect match.

Applicants have been asked to request saliva swab kits which they can use at home or to register as stem-cell donors at one of a number of designated medical centres on one of three "donor days".

A week after launching the campaign, Delete Blood Cancer UK say they have received more than 12,000 requests for swab kits, a number equal to 2.5% of the existing UK stem-cell database owned by the Anthony Nolan Trust.

Mr Martini said: "It is like oxygen to us that there has been this initial impact but we are still seeking a perfect match.

"To increase our chances of finding this person we are holding two events with Delete Blood Cancer UK, one in London and one in Wolverhampton, to develop awareness and drum-up even more people to sign-up to be potential donors."

:: Margot's parents will be on Sky News at 8.15am. Watch live on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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Francois Hollande Faces Media Over Alleged Affair

Francois Hollande is to face the media for the first time since news of his alleged affair with a French actress became public.

The French president will hold an annual New Year's news conference with journalists in Paris to discuss the economy and plans to offer French businesses tax cuts aimed at reducing unemployment.

But he is likely to face a barrage of questions about the publication of tabloid photographs in a French gossip magazine said to show him conducting a secret liaison with 41-year-old actress Julie Gayet.

French actress Julie Gayet

A similar press conference in 2007, by Mr Hollande's predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy following his divorce, was instead subject to intense interest in his links with singer Carla Bruni, whom he later married.

Reporting from Paris, Sky's Jason Farrell said: "This all comes at a very bad time for Francois Hollande. He's been seen as the president unable to turn around the French economy, he's due to speak about that subject, but he's more likely to be pressed about his private life."

Mr Hollande's partner Valerie Trierweiler was taken to hospital in a state of shock over the claims but France's First Lady is reportedly prepared to forgive Mr Hollande.

Le Parisien reported on Monday that the journalist and mother-of-three had no intention of immediately ending her relationship with the president.

Despite the media attention, a survey of French voters revealed 80% consider the matter a private affair. The faltering French economy is considered by many to be a more important issue facing the country.

"This has been disastrous for the image of the institution of the presidency," said Jean-François Cope, head of the opposition UMP conservatives.

French journalist and political commentator Agnès Poirier told Sky News: "This is trivia, because it's gossip, it's not news, because it's not something we should pay any attention (to).

"A lot of people are interested in the story, obviously, but we know we 'shouldn't be'."

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