Category: news

Tia Rigg was found by police at the house on 3 April

A man obsessed with rape, torture and child abuse has admitted murdering his 12-year-old niece.

John Maden lured Tia Rigg to his home in Cheetham Hill, north Manchester, on the pretext of babysitting – but drugged and killed her.

He then called police himself and was “chillingly calm” when officers arrived, Manchester Crown Court heard.

Maden, 37, who is the brother of Tia’s mother Lynne Rigg, pleaded guilty before the start of his trial.

The court heard that Maden had become obsessed with violent pornography and images of child abuse that he had downloaded from the internet.

Gordon Cole QC, prosecuting, said: “In general terms this murder was premeditated.

“It was murder purely for his sexual gratification – it had a sexual motive. The facts reveal clearly features of torture, rape, physical abuse and the ultimate murder of a child.”

Mr Cole said Maden had developed an “obsessive interest” in images and literature relating to paedophilia, rape and torture.

“He had an extensive library of such materials which included literature dealing with methods of killing,” he told the court.

The hearing continues.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

The Eiffel Tower was evacuated twice in September

The Japanese government has issued a terror alert to its citizens in Europe, following similar warnings from the UK and USA.

The foreign ministry in Tokyo urged people to exercise caution when using public transport or visiting tourist sites.

Security sources warned last week of potential plots on the scale of the Mumbai attacks in 2008.

US authorities have cited France, Germany and the UK as possible targets.

The US state department said on Sunday that a “variety of means and weapons” might be used against official and private interests.

The British Foreign Office said that there was a “high threat” of attack in France and Germany and the government said the threat level in the UK remained at severe.

French officials said there was no reason to raise the current red alert status to scarlet.

In recent weeks, the Eiffel Tower in Paris has twice been evacuated because of bomb threats.

Police say a man has been arrested south-west of the city on suspicion of issuing bomb threats.

Tourists continued to queue at the base of the Eiffel Tower on Monday and a small number of soldiers patrolled the area as usual.

In Italy, Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said the threat level remained high and security forces were watching the situation closely.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Consumers could pre-order foreign currency up to a year in advance

Thousands of people face uncertainty over travel money after an exchange firm went into administration.

Crown Currency Exchange, one of the UK’s biggest foreign exchange websites, has collapsed – blaming the downturn in the travel market.

Administrators MCR said that an estimated 13,000 consumers would be directly affected.

These people should not expect an early resolution in the case and a quick return of money, administrators said.

The business, based in Hayle in Cornwall, was established by husband and wife Peter and Susan Benstead five years ago.

It allowed individuals and business customers to pre-order foreign exchange at a set price up to a year in advance, with amounts of between £300 and £10,000 available.

But its bank accounts were frozen by Barclays at the weekend, barring it from withdrawing or transmitting any money to customers.

And administrators from MCR and SPW were appointed on Monday.

They said the business had processed hundreds of millions of pounds worth of foreign currency in the last five years, providing travel money in 80 different currencies, as well as travellers’ cheques and money transfers.

“Like many operators in the travel sector, it has experienced a difficult trading environment during the course of the past 12 months which has been exacerbated by a further downturn and general tightening of the travel market,” said administrator Paul Clark, of MCR.

The administrators are contacting all those affected to advise them on their individual situation, but these people could also contact the company.

“I have no doubt that they will be understandably concerned about their own position and we recommend that they contact the company directly,” Mr Clark said.

“We fully appreciate the difficult position in which many will now find themselves in – many in the build-up to holidays or business trips, as well as money transfers associated with second home purchases. However the administration process is in its early days and we cannot guarantee an early resolution for those looking for a quick return of their money.”

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Europe leads USA as the record fourth day of the tournament begins

The 2010 Ryder Cup begins a fourth day for the first time in its history after rain caused more play delays on Sunday.

It is the first time in 83 years that the tournament, played every two years, has ended on Monday.

Spectators with Sunday tickets are being allowed back into Celtic Manor near Newport, but some fans have already had to travel home.

People with Friday tickets may be able to exchange them for free entry to the Wales Open next June, organisers say.

Russell Phillips, vice-president of the Celtic Manor resort, said the venue was restricting access to Sunday tickets on safety grounds on Monday as it was not known how many would turn up if Friday ticket holders were allowed in as well.

He told BBC Wales: “Then we would get slaughtered if we suddenly had to shut the gates halfway through the day because there were too many people in the course and it’s getting dangerous.”

He confirmed that organisers were hoping to offer an alternative to Friday ticket holders.

He said: “We’re hoping we can do something around (the) Wales Open, where people will be able to exchange their tickets to get into (the) Wales Open.”

Europe lead the US by three points as the fourth day of play gets under way.

Europe’s Rory McIlroy, left, and Graeme McDowell smile on the third day of the 2010 Ryder Cup

Many fans have already left Wales for home because they had fixed travel arrangements.

One, Constant Priondolo, from Quebec, Canada, said he would loved to have come back on Monday

“I would love to but I’ve got to go back to work.

“Unfortunately, I’m probably going to miss the matches.”

But another supporter, Alan Gordon from Scotland, said he would be staying for the conclusion and he thought a lot of other fans would too.

“I think there will still be a good support, a good atmosphere for the European team.

“Obviously you can get back to Scotland. but getting back to the States is obviously a different kettle of fish,” he added.

Sir Terry Matthews, the billionaire businessman and owner of the Celtic Manor resort, said everyone involved was “deeply disappointed by the weather”.

A total of 52.2mm (2.04 ins) of rain fell at Celtic Manor between 1730 BST on Thursday and 1000 on Sunday, more than half the average monthly rainfall.

But he defended the timing of the event, which has been moved from September to October:

“We could have played this event exactly one year ago or exactly one week ago and we would have experienced no interruptions to the schedule of play, but one thing we cannot control is the weather.

Former First Minister Rhodri Morgan said Celtic Manor deserved to be remembered fondly by the golf fans as its “natural vantage points” allowed spectators to see what golf was being played.

He said: “The Americans did insist on moving [the tournament] forward one week in to October and the risk is always increased.”

“The earlier it is the less chance there is of bad weather but money talks in golf.

“They were warned the longer you leave it, the less sunlight that you’ve got, the less daylight you’ve got to play around with the times. And they decided to take that chance.”

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Mr Wilders denies the charges of inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims

The Dutch anti-Islamist MP Geert Wilders is to go on trial in Amsterdam on charges of inciting racial hatred against Muslims.

If found guilty, Mr Wilders could face up to a year in jail or a fine of up to 7,600 euros ($10,000).

The controversial politician is set to become a shadow partner of the next coalition government.

He claims that he has said nothing offensive.

Mr Wilders will stand trial on five charges of inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims, including calling Islam fascist and likening the Koran to Hitler’s Mein Kampf.

Prosecutors say Mr Wilders committed the offences in his 17-minute film Fitna, which has sparked protests across the Muslim world.

He campaigns for a stop to Muslim immigration to the Netherlands, a ban on the construction of new mosques, and a tax on headscarves.

Mr. Wilders was refused entry to Britain last year, after being invited to show his film in the House of Lords.

Due to numerous death threats, he is always surrounded by bodyguards.

Mr Wilders says his mission to stop the islamisation of the Netherlands.

The judgement is expected on 4 November.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Mr al-Shahristani said he expected the figure to increase even further

Iraq has raised the level of its proven oil reserves by 24% in its first revision since Saddam Hussein fell from power.

The republic has 143.1bn barrels of known and extractible oil, up from the $115bn barrels that prevailed under the later years of Saddam Hussein.

If correct, it means that Iraq has overtaken neighbouring Iran.

In the Saddam era, sanctions and political isolation meant little new exploratory work was undertaken.

However, since he was toppled in 2003, Iraq has issued two rounds of international oil licences, and launched a big step-up in exploration efforts in the last two years.

Announcing the new figures, the Iraqi oil minister, Hussein al-Shahristani, said he expected “other increases of even these fixed reserves” as further exploration yields more results.

He also said that Iraq would now officially inform the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) of its findings, so that the new reserves figure can obtain international recognition.

Iraq is currently exempt from Opec quotas, and in any case only exports about two million barrels per day – well short of its target of more than 10 million barrels.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Spectators have been conspicuously absent at many of the events at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, which opened on Sunday.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Wales defender Danny Gabbidon retires from international football.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

George Osborne: “When we’re asking so much of so many people across society I think it is a fair measure”

Child benefit is to be axed for higher rate taxpayers from 2013, Chancellor George Osborne has announced.

Talking on BBC One’s Breakfast ahead of his appearance at the Conservative party conference, he said the move would save about £1bn.

“It’s a big decision for us, but we think it’s absolutely necessary and fair given the financial situation we face,” he said.

Parents earning over about £44,000 who pay 40% tax and above will be affected.