European domains such as .nl and .fr now host 60% of the webpages that feature images of child sexual abuse, a watchdog has said.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) found the country that hosts the largest number of pages containing indecent pictures or videos of children is the Netherlands (37%).
The USA hosts around one in five, with Canada at 15%, France 11% and Russia 7%.
The UK was found to host 0.1% of the 57,335 URLs the IWF came across, down from 0.2% in 2015. This compares to 18% in 1996.
The foundation said 34,212 of the URLs containing child abuse were hosted in Europe.
The majority of the children featured were assessed as being under 10 and more than a quarter of the webpages showed rape and sexual torture.
The vast majority of the child abuse is on image hosting sites - the type that usually allow anyone with an account to upload pictures or video and anyone with a password to access them.
The IWF said the increase in the number of European servers being used was down to criminals wanting fast, reliable web services and their increasing ability to mask their activities.
It found a 258% increase in the number of websites using a top-level domain compared with last year.
The IWF's chief executive, Susie Hargreaves, said: "The shift of child sexual abuse imagery hosting to Europe shows a reversal from previous years.
"Criminals need to use good internet hosting services which offer speed, affordability, availability and access. Services which cost nothing, and allow people to remain anonymous, are attractive."
Ms Hargreaves added: "Whilst it's positive that the UK continues to remain hostile to child sexual abuse material, the global picture isn't good.
"We've opened reporting portals across the globe with more planned. In other countries, internet companies are exploited and, worst of all, children who have been sexually abused are further exploited."
The IWF, an industry-funded body that works with the police, said it is highlighting the scale of the problem in the hope of spurring the companies involved into removing the webpages from their servers.
Monday, April 3, 2017
10 Dead and at least 50 injured after a Blast on the Underground system in St Petersburg
No fewer than 9 people were killed and 20 were injured after an explosion rocked a train in St. Petersburg, Russia on Monday.
The source of the explosion was a bomb filled with shrapnel, which detonated at 2:20 p.m. local time on a metro train traveling from the Technology Institute station to the Sennaya Square station.
Another bomb was deactivated at a separate St. Petersburg metro station shortly after the first blast, according to the Associated Press.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was visiting the city on Monday, said that investigations were underway to determine the cause of the attack. At the time of reporting, no group or individual has claimed responsibility for the explosion.
The source of the explosion was a bomb filled with shrapnel, which detonated at 2:20 p.m. local time on a metro train traveling from the Technology Institute station to the Sennaya Square station.
Another bomb was deactivated at a separate St. Petersburg metro station shortly after the first blast, according to the Associated Press.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was visiting the city on Monday, said that investigations were underway to determine the cause of the attack. At the time of reporting, no group or individual has claimed responsibility for the explosion.
“Law enforcement agencies and intelligence services are doing their best to establish a cause and give a full picture of what happened,” the Russian president said.
Trump warns China he is ready to act alone over North Korea nukes
Donald Trump has said the US is prepared to take action against North Korea if China does not toughen its stance over Kim Jong-Un's nuclear programme.
The President's warning comes days before he is due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago resort in south Florida.
The pair are expected to discuss trade and territorial disputes in the South China Sea as well as aggression from Pyongyang during meetings on Thursday and Friday.
Mr Trump told the Financial Times: "Yes, we will talk about North Korea.
"And China has great influence over North Korea. And China will either decide to help us with North Korea, or they won't.
"And if they do that will be very good for China, and if they don't it won't be good for anyone."
He suggested trade should be the main incentive for China to co-operate, but said the US could "totally" handle North Korea alone if necessary.
Asked to elaborate on his plan, he said: "I'm not going to tell you.
"You know, I am not the United States of the past where we tell you where we are going to hit in the Middle East."
While diplomatic and economic support from China is believed to be crucial to the survival of the Pyongyang regime, Beijing insists it has limited influence.
During his election campign, Mr Trump was outspoken on China - threatening to raise import taxes and declare China a currency manipulator.
He told the FT he did not want to discuss tariffs with President Xi at the forthcoming meeting, adding: "Perhaps the next time we meet."
FT editor Lionel Barber, who interviewed Mr Trump in the Oval Office, told Sky News: "He is the master destabiliser.
"The guy looks for leverage and I think this applies to everything. He likes to be the negotiator.
"He likes to stake out a big aggressive position and then come back, and I think you can see that in terms of foreign policy and the big story of course on North Korea."
UN resolutions have failed so far to deter North Korea from conducting nuclear and missile tests.
Last year, the North conducted two nuclear tests and two dozen tests of ballistic missiles.
Mr Trump's UN ambassador Nikki Haley said at the weekend that China "has to co-operate" with the US to tackle North Korean aggression.
The President appeared to soften his approach to the European Union in the interview - praising the bloc's response to the Brexit vote.
He said: "I think Brexit is very good for the UK, it is going to be very good for UK.
"I would have thought when it happened that more would follow, but I really think the European Union is getting their act together. It could be a very good thing for both."
He added: "If you would have asked me that the day after the election... I would have said, 'Yeah, it will start to come apart'.
"But they have done a very good job and - I am meeting with them very soon - they have done a very good job in bringing it back together."
Mr Trump, who frequently criticised Angela Merkel during the 2016 presidential campaign, insisted he had a "great" meeting with her.
The talks in March included an awkward moment when Mr Trump appeared to decline a handshake with the German chancellor in front of the press.
The President's warning comes days before he is due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago resort in south Florida.
The pair are expected to discuss trade and territorial disputes in the South China Sea as well as aggression from Pyongyang during meetings on Thursday and Friday.
Mr Trump told the Financial Times: "Yes, we will talk about North Korea.
"And China has great influence over North Korea. And China will either decide to help us with North Korea, or they won't.
"And if they do that will be very good for China, and if they don't it won't be good for anyone."
He suggested trade should be the main incentive for China to co-operate, but said the US could "totally" handle North Korea alone if necessary.
Asked to elaborate on his plan, he said: "I'm not going to tell you.
"You know, I am not the United States of the past where we tell you where we are going to hit in the Middle East."
While diplomatic and economic support from China is believed to be crucial to the survival of the Pyongyang regime, Beijing insists it has limited influence.
During his election campign, Mr Trump was outspoken on China - threatening to raise import taxes and declare China a currency manipulator.
He told the FT he did not want to discuss tariffs with President Xi at the forthcoming meeting, adding: "Perhaps the next time we meet."
FT editor Lionel Barber, who interviewed Mr Trump in the Oval Office, told Sky News: "He is the master destabiliser.
"The guy looks for leverage and I think this applies to everything. He likes to be the negotiator.
"He likes to stake out a big aggressive position and then come back, and I think you can see that in terms of foreign policy and the big story of course on North Korea."
UN resolutions have failed so far to deter North Korea from conducting nuclear and missile tests.
Last year, the North conducted two nuclear tests and two dozen tests of ballistic missiles.
Mr Trump's UN ambassador Nikki Haley said at the weekend that China "has to co-operate" with the US to tackle North Korean aggression.
The President appeared to soften his approach to the European Union in the interview - praising the bloc's response to the Brexit vote.
He said: "I think Brexit is very good for the UK, it is going to be very good for UK.
"I would have thought when it happened that more would follow, but I really think the European Union is getting their act together. It could be a very good thing for both."
He added: "If you would have asked me that the day after the election... I would have said, 'Yeah, it will start to come apart'.
"But they have done a very good job and - I am meeting with them very soon - they have done a very good job in bringing it back together."
Mr Trump, who frequently criticised Angela Merkel during the 2016 presidential campaign, insisted he had a "great" meeting with her.
The talks in March included an awkward moment when Mr Trump appeared to decline a handshake with the German chancellor in front of the press.
Drone complaints surge as annoyance grows
Drones are at the centre of a flood of reports being made to police in the UK, amid a dramatic surge in incidents.
The number of complaints has rocketed between 2014 and 2016, according to Press Association figures.
Last year, police recorded 3,456 incidents - about 10 a day and almost triple the 2015 figure of 1,237. The 2014 figure was just 283.
These include neighbour-to-neighbour rows, crime, general annoyance and close calls with passenger planes.
Not all police forces were able to submit data on the drone cases so the real number could be much higher.
Sussex Police recorded the highest number of drone-related incidents last year, with 240, followed by Greater Manchester at 225.
Professor David H Dunn, of Birmingham University, said drones posed a "major challenge" to people wanting to maintain their privacy.
He said: "Previously you had a hedge, you had a wall and you could do whatever you wanted in your garden without people disturbing you.
"That has changed because of drones.
"Anecdotally I've heard that burglars using drones is a big issue for police forces.
"People are using them to fly behind properties to see if the lights are on, to see what sort of French windows they have or whether there are windows open."
Among the cases are complaints from neighbours, including one where a man said his neighbour was flying a drone "just to annoy" him.
Among complaints were reports of drugs being dropped into prisons and a burglary was reported after a drone was seen hovering over houses.
Members of the public have also contacted police to report drones being used for snooping, such as a complaint about a drone said to have flown over a garden a number of times while girls were sunbathing.
There have also been several instances of drones being spotted near aircraft, something that could potentially cause a dangerous - if not fatal - crash.
Assistant Chief Constable Steve Barry, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for drones, said: "As awareness of what drones are and what they can do continues to grow, police forces have seen increases in concerns and reports by the public.
"We have to balance the growth of this technology by ensuring that the public are aware of the strong regulatory framework and detailed user guidance that is available relating to drone use."
The number of complaints has rocketed between 2014 and 2016, according to Press Association figures.
Last year, police recorded 3,456 incidents - about 10 a day and almost triple the 2015 figure of 1,237. The 2014 figure was just 283.
These include neighbour-to-neighbour rows, crime, general annoyance and close calls with passenger planes.
Not all police forces were able to submit data on the drone cases so the real number could be much higher.
Sussex Police recorded the highest number of drone-related incidents last year, with 240, followed by Greater Manchester at 225.
Professor David H Dunn, of Birmingham University, said drones posed a "major challenge" to people wanting to maintain their privacy.
He said: "Previously you had a hedge, you had a wall and you could do whatever you wanted in your garden without people disturbing you.
"That has changed because of drones.
"Anecdotally I've heard that burglars using drones is a big issue for police forces.
"People are using them to fly behind properties to see if the lights are on, to see what sort of French windows they have or whether there are windows open."
Among the cases are complaints from neighbours, including one where a man said his neighbour was flying a drone "just to annoy" him.
Among complaints were reports of drugs being dropped into prisons and a burglary was reported after a drone was seen hovering over houses.
Members of the public have also contacted police to report drones being used for snooping, such as a complaint about a drone said to have flown over a garden a number of times while girls were sunbathing.
There have also been several instances of drones being spotted near aircraft, something that could potentially cause a dangerous - if not fatal - crash.
Assistant Chief Constable Steve Barry, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for drones, said: "As awareness of what drones are and what they can do continues to grow, police forces have seen increases in concerns and reports by the public.
"We have to balance the growth of this technology by ensuring that the public are aware of the strong regulatory framework and detailed user guidance that is available relating to drone use."
British babies cry more than almost anywhere else in the world, study finds
Babies in the UK cry more than almost anywhere else in the industrialised world, according to a new study.
Scientists found the UK came top of an international "crying chart" for infants aged under three months.
Italy, the Netherlands and Canada also topped the survey.
Researchers analysed data on almost 8,700 babies in different countries taking part in previous studies to find out how much babies cry in their first 12 weeks.
Infants in Denmark, Germany and Japan were found to cry the least.
Researchers found that on average, babies cried for around two hours per day in the first two weeks after birth.
Crying peaked at about two hours, 15 minutes per day at six weeks before gradually reducing to an average of one hour, 10 minutes.
Lead researcher Professor Dieter Wolke, from the University of Warwick, said: "We may learn more from looking at cultures where there is less crying and whether this may be due to parenting or other factors relating to pregnancy experiences or genetics."
He said the chart would help health professionals determine whether a baby is crying within the normal expected range in the first three months, or excessively.
The highest levels of colic - defined as a baby crying more than three hours a day for at least three days a week - were found in the UK, then Canada and Italy. Denmark and Germany had the lowest rates.
The findings are to be published in the Journal of Pediatrics.
Scientists found the UK came top of an international "crying chart" for infants aged under three months.
Italy, the Netherlands and Canada also topped the survey.
Researchers analysed data on almost 8,700 babies in different countries taking part in previous studies to find out how much babies cry in their first 12 weeks.
Infants in Denmark, Germany and Japan were found to cry the least.
Researchers found that on average, babies cried for around two hours per day in the first two weeks after birth.
Crying peaked at about two hours, 15 minutes per day at six weeks before gradually reducing to an average of one hour, 10 minutes.
Lead researcher Professor Dieter Wolke, from the University of Warwick, said: "We may learn more from looking at cultures where there is less crying and whether this may be due to parenting or other factors relating to pregnancy experiences or genetics."
He said the chart would help health professionals determine whether a baby is crying within the normal expected range in the first three months, or excessively.
The highest levels of colic - defined as a baby crying more than three hours a day for at least three days a week - were found in the UK, then Canada and Italy. Denmark and Germany had the lowest rates.
The findings are to be published in the Journal of Pediatrics.
New credit card rules could help customers shake off persistent debt
New rules governing the credit card market could see customers having their cards suspended while they work to pay off persistent debt.
The changes suggested by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) call on firms to take a more proactive approach with struggling customers.
It could mean agreeing repayment plans to clear the debt quicker; or firms reducing, waiving or cancelling interest or charges where a repayment plan is still unaffordable.
Customers who fail to cooperate or who cannot afford the repayment plans would lose the use of their cards.
An FCA study found many firms did not intervene because persistent debtors - defined as those who have paid more in interest and charges than in actual debt repayments over an 18-month period - are often very profitable.
It estimates around 3.3 million people in the UK are in persistent debt, with more than half (1.8 million) remaining so for at least two consecutive periods of 18 months.
The proposals also suggest giving customers greater control over increases to their credit limits by offering choices around how and when increases can be offered and making the process of declining them more straightforward.
Andrew Bailey, FCA chief executive, said the proposed changes would give customers greater control.
"Persistent debt can be very expensive - costing customers on average around £2.50 for every £1 repaid - and can obscure underlying financial problems," he said.
"Because these customers remain profitable, firms have few incentives to intervene.
"We want to change this situation so that firms and customers will deal with outstanding debt more quickly, and avoid persistent debt in the first place."
A consultation has now been launched on the proposals and will run until July.
The changes suggested by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) call on firms to take a more proactive approach with struggling customers.
It could mean agreeing repayment plans to clear the debt quicker; or firms reducing, waiving or cancelling interest or charges where a repayment plan is still unaffordable.
Customers who fail to cooperate or who cannot afford the repayment plans would lose the use of their cards.
An FCA study found many firms did not intervene because persistent debtors - defined as those who have paid more in interest and charges than in actual debt repayments over an 18-month period - are often very profitable.
It estimates around 3.3 million people in the UK are in persistent debt, with more than half (1.8 million) remaining so for at least two consecutive periods of 18 months.
The proposals also suggest giving customers greater control over increases to their credit limits by offering choices around how and when increases can be offered and making the process of declining them more straightforward.
Andrew Bailey, FCA chief executive, said the proposed changes would give customers greater control.
"Persistent debt can be very expensive - costing customers on average around £2.50 for every £1 repaid - and can obscure underlying financial problems," he said.
"Because these customers remain profitable, firms have few incentives to intervene.
"We want to change this situation so that firms and customers will deal with outstanding debt more quickly, and avoid persistent debt in the first place."
A consultation has now been launched on the proposals and will run until July.
Peter Rabbit part of Beatrix Potter coloured 50p coin release by Royal Mint
A new set of coloured 50p coins is being issued by the Royal Mint, featuring characters from Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit series of books in their original outfits.
Designs on the coins commemorate the hand-painted style of Potter's original illustrations, with colour added to Peter's blue jacket, Jeremy Fisher's bright red one, Tom Kitten's blue pyjamas and Benjamin Bunny's green hat.
Thirty thousand coins featuring each of the characters are being released today as collectables and later this year the set will be released for general circulation.
The coins were created by designer Emma Noble, who has previously worked on pieces celebrating the Diamond Jubilee and Remembrance Sunday.
They will add to a collection issued by the Royal Mint last year to mark the 150th anniversary of the author's birth.
The 2016 batch showed illustrations of four of Potter's characters, Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and Squirrel Nutkin.
Anne Jessopp, of The Royal Mint, said demand was astonishing: "The enormous popularity of the 2016 set exceeded everyone's expectations... The coins sold out almost instantly as people raced to collect a complete set of the four friends."
More than 45 million copies of Potter's original book, The Tale Of Peter Rabbit, have been sold since it was first published in 1902.
The story's enduring popularity is also being celebrated on the big screen, with filming starting this month on a Hollywood remake.
James Corden and Margot Robbie are among the stars voicing characters in the movie, which combines the scenery of the Lake District with CGI animation and is due for release in March 2018.
Potter, who lived in the Cumbrian beauty spot for the last 40 years of her life, died in 1943 aged 77.
Designs on the coins commemorate the hand-painted style of Potter's original illustrations, with colour added to Peter's blue jacket, Jeremy Fisher's bright red one, Tom Kitten's blue pyjamas and Benjamin Bunny's green hat.
Thirty thousand coins featuring each of the characters are being released today as collectables and later this year the set will be released for general circulation.
The coins were created by designer Emma Noble, who has previously worked on pieces celebrating the Diamond Jubilee and Remembrance Sunday.
They will add to a collection issued by the Royal Mint last year to mark the 150th anniversary of the author's birth.
The 2016 batch showed illustrations of four of Potter's characters, Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and Squirrel Nutkin.
Anne Jessopp, of The Royal Mint, said demand was astonishing: "The enormous popularity of the 2016 set exceeded everyone's expectations... The coins sold out almost instantly as people raced to collect a complete set of the four friends."
More than 45 million copies of Potter's original book, The Tale Of Peter Rabbit, have been sold since it was first published in 1902.
The story's enduring popularity is also being celebrated on the big screen, with filming starting this month on a Hollywood remake.
James Corden and Margot Robbie are among the stars voicing characters in the movie, which combines the scenery of the Lake District with CGI animation and is due for release in March 2018.
Potter, who lived in the Cumbrian beauty spot for the last 40 years of her life, died in 1943 aged 77.
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