The father of reality TV star Ferne McCann's unborn child has appeared in court charged over an acid attack in an east London nightclub.
Arthur Collins is charged with 14 counts of grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent against four men and 10 women, and one count of throwing an acidic liquid with intent to do GBH to multiple people.
Two people were partially blinded by the attack at the Mangle nightclub in Hackney on 17 April, while other victims were left disfigured.
Collins, 24, wearing a green jacket over a grey hooded top and walking with crutches, spoke only to confirm his name and address when he appeared at Thames Magistrates Court on Monday.
In a statement released earlier McCann, best known for her appearances on The Only Way Is Essex and I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! said her thoughts are with the victims of what she described as an "horrific" attack.
McCann's agent said: "Ferne is grateful for the sympathetic way news of her pregnancy has been covered and people's support and obviously her first concern is for her child's health."
She added that McCann, who has a presenting role on daytime television show This Morning, is under "immense strain".
The agent said: "Ferne is in no way seeking sympathy for her situation and is determined to do all she can to have a happy and healthy child and face the challenges of being a single parent with all her energy."
Andre Phoenix, of Clyde Road, Tottenham, appeared alongside Collins, of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire.
Phoenix, 21, is charged with seven counts of throwing a corrosive fluid with intent to do GBH to three men and four women.
Prosecutor Ciro D'Alessio told the court there was a third unidentified suspect at large.
Both defendants, who had family members looking on from the public gallery, were remanded in custody to appear at Wood Green Crown Court on 22 May.
Monday, April 24, 2017
Labour wants to create four patron saints' day bank holidays
A Labour government will seek to create four new UK-wide bank holidays on the patron saint's day of each of the home nations, Jeremy Corbyn has said.
Speaking today on St George's Day, the Labour leader said the move would bring together England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, while giving workers a well-deserved break.
But a Conservative source told Sky News that the British economy "would be on permanent holiday if Mr Corbyn got near Downing Street".
Under the proposal, there would be public holidays on St David's Day (1 March), St Patrick's Day (17 March), St George's Day (23 April) and St Andrew's Day (30 November).
:: Can we really afford to have more bank holidays?
Mr Corbyn said: "For years, Britain's workers haven't had a proper pay rise, with wages for most people still below 2007 levels.
"After seven years of painful austerity, our workers deserve a break - and under a Labour government, they will have the opportunity of four more days off a year.
"The four nations that make up our great country have rarely been more divided due to the damaging and divisive policies of this Conservative Government."
Meanwhile, Theresa May is expected to propose slashing energy prices by as much as £100 for 17 million families in the Conservative manifesto.
The Prime Minister will call for a cap on gas and electricity bills for seven out of 10 households that pay standard variable tariffs.
Allies of Ed Miliband, though, have accused Mrs May of "stealing" his flagship 2015 plan as part of her bid to win seats in Labour's northern heartlands.
The policy is the centrepiece of a manifesto that the Conservatives say will set out a bold vision for Britain, with new rights for workers and proposals to tackle rogue bosses.
UKIP look likely to tack right in this election with a pledge to ban the full-face veils worn by some Muslim women.
Party leader Paul Nuttall will launch what he calls an "integration agenda" on Monday.
The election manifesto is expected to include banning wearing the burka and niqab in public which they argue is a barrier to social harmony, as well as a security risk.
He will also propose outlawing Sharia law - the religious rules that form part of Islamic tradition.
And UKIP will call for postal voting to be largely abolished, because of concerns over electoral fraud.
In the latest election polls, a Comres poll for Sunday Mirror found that 50% of people would vote Conservative, 25% would vote Labour, 11% would vote Liberal Democrat and 7% UKIP.
The 50% support is a Comres poll's highest for a party since 1991.
An opinium poll of 2,003 people for the Observer found that 45% of voters would back the Conservatives if an election was held tomorrow - up seven points from last week - with 26% saying they would vote Labour (down three points), 9% for UKIP (down five points) and the Lib Dems on 11% (up four points).
YouGov for The Sunday Times, meanwhile, also has the Conservatives well ahead on 48% - a 23-point lead over Labour on 25%. It has the Lib Dems on 12% while support for UKIP is just 5%.
Speaking today on St George's Day, the Labour leader said the move would bring together England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, while giving workers a well-deserved break.
But a Conservative source told Sky News that the British economy "would be on permanent holiday if Mr Corbyn got near Downing Street".
Under the proposal, there would be public holidays on St David's Day (1 March), St Patrick's Day (17 March), St George's Day (23 April) and St Andrew's Day (30 November).
:: Can we really afford to have more bank holidays?
Mr Corbyn said: "For years, Britain's workers haven't had a proper pay rise, with wages for most people still below 2007 levels.
"After seven years of painful austerity, our workers deserve a break - and under a Labour government, they will have the opportunity of four more days off a year.
"The four nations that make up our great country have rarely been more divided due to the damaging and divisive policies of this Conservative Government."
Meanwhile, Theresa May is expected to propose slashing energy prices by as much as £100 for 17 million families in the Conservative manifesto.
The Prime Minister will call for a cap on gas and electricity bills for seven out of 10 households that pay standard variable tariffs.
Allies of Ed Miliband, though, have accused Mrs May of "stealing" his flagship 2015 plan as part of her bid to win seats in Labour's northern heartlands.
The policy is the centrepiece of a manifesto that the Conservatives say will set out a bold vision for Britain, with new rights for workers and proposals to tackle rogue bosses.
UKIP look likely to tack right in this election with a pledge to ban the full-face veils worn by some Muslim women.
Party leader Paul Nuttall will launch what he calls an "integration agenda" on Monday.
The election manifesto is expected to include banning wearing the burka and niqab in public which they argue is a barrier to social harmony, as well as a security risk.
He will also propose outlawing Sharia law - the religious rules that form part of Islamic tradition.
And UKIP will call for postal voting to be largely abolished, because of concerns over electoral fraud.
In the latest election polls, a Comres poll for Sunday Mirror found that 50% of people would vote Conservative, 25% would vote Labour, 11% would vote Liberal Democrat and 7% UKIP.
The 50% support is a Comres poll's highest for a party since 1991.
An opinium poll of 2,003 people for the Observer found that 45% of voters would back the Conservatives if an election was held tomorrow - up seven points from last week - with 26% saying they would vote Labour (down three points), 9% for UKIP (down five points) and the Lib Dems on 11% (up four points).
YouGov for The Sunday Times, meanwhile, also has the Conservatives well ahead on 48% - a 23-point lead over Labour on 25%. It has the Lib Dems on 12% while support for UKIP is just 5%.
University lecturer Tony Kim named as American held in North Korea
An American citizen who has been arrested in North Korea had been lecturing at a university in Pyongyang, officials have confirmed.
Tony Kim, also known as Kim Sang-duk, was detained as he attempted to travel from Pyongyang Airport to China with his wife on Saturday.
The 58-year-old had taught accounting at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST) for around a month before his arrest.
The university's chancellor, Park Chan-mo, said he was informed the detention had "nothing to do" with Mr Kim's work at PUST but did not know further details.
North Korean authorities have not yet confirmed why Mr Kim was arrested and the US State Department has declined to comment "due to privacy considerations".
According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, Mr Kim had also been involved in an aid programme for children in rural parts of North Korea.
It cited a source familiar with the matter who described Kim as a "religiously devoted man".
Tony Kim is the third American to be held in North Korea.
Last year, Otto Warmbier, a 22-year-old university student, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour in prison after he confessed to trying to steal a propaganda banner.
Meanwhile, South Korea-born Kim Dong-Chul is serving a 10-year sentence for espionage.
The arrest comes amid heightened tensions between North Korea and the US, which has sent a carrier strike group towards the Korean Peninsula.
Chinese state media says that President Xi Jinping called for restraint over the situation during a phone call with Donald Trump on Monday morning.
"If all sides bear the responsibilities they're supposed to bear and come together, the nuclear issue on the peninsula can be resolved as quickly as possible," Mr Xi reportedly told the US president.
Pyongyang has warned it will respond to any US aggression and threatened a nuclear strike on Australia after urging the country to think twice before "blindly and zealously toeing the US line".
Tony Kim, also known as Kim Sang-duk, was detained as he attempted to travel from Pyongyang Airport to China with his wife on Saturday.
The 58-year-old had taught accounting at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST) for around a month before his arrest.
The university's chancellor, Park Chan-mo, said he was informed the detention had "nothing to do" with Mr Kim's work at PUST but did not know further details.
North Korean authorities have not yet confirmed why Mr Kim was arrested and the US State Department has declined to comment "due to privacy considerations".
According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, Mr Kim had also been involved in an aid programme for children in rural parts of North Korea.
It cited a source familiar with the matter who described Kim as a "religiously devoted man".
Tony Kim is the third American to be held in North Korea.
Last year, Otto Warmbier, a 22-year-old university student, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour in prison after he confessed to trying to steal a propaganda banner.
Meanwhile, South Korea-born Kim Dong-Chul is serving a 10-year sentence for espionage.
The arrest comes amid heightened tensions between North Korea and the US, which has sent a carrier strike group towards the Korean Peninsula.
Chinese state media says that President Xi Jinping called for restraint over the situation during a phone call with Donald Trump on Monday morning.
"If all sides bear the responsibilities they're supposed to bear and come together, the nuclear issue on the peninsula can be resolved as quickly as possible," Mr Xi reportedly told the US president.
Pyongyang has warned it will respond to any US aggression and threatened a nuclear strike on Australia after urging the country to think twice before "blindly and zealously toeing the US line".
Sunday, April 23, 2017
North Korea threatens to strike US aircraft carrier to show 'military's force'
North Korea threatened Sunday to sink a U.S. aircraft carrier to demonstrate its military prowess as two Japanese Navy ships joined a U.S. strike group for exercises in the Philippine Sea.
“Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a U.S. nuclear powered aircraft carrier with a single strike," according to North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party’s newspaper, the Rodong Sinmum.
The paper also likened the USS Carl Vinson to a “gross animal” and said a strike on the carrier would be “an actual example to show our military’s force.”
President Trump ordered the USS Carl Vinson to sail to waters off the Korean Peninsula in response to the rising tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile tests and threats to attack the U.S. and its allies. Vice President Pence said Saturday that group would arrive “within days.”
The Vinson and two other U.S. warships were joined by two Japanese destroyers as they continued their journey north in the western Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Navy said in a statement. The U.S. group also includes a guided-missile cruiser and a guided-missile destroyer.
The aircraft carrier had canceled a scheduled visit to Australia to divert toward North Korea in a show of force, though it still conducted a curtailed training exercise with Australia before doing so.
The Navy called the exercise "routine" and said it is designed to improve combined maritime response and defense capabilities, as well as joint maneuvering proficiency.
The Vinson group has conducted three previous bilateral exercises with the Japanese Navy since leaving San Diego on Jan. 5 for a western Pacific deployment. The most recent one was in March.
Analysts believe that North Korea could be gearing up for its sixth nuclear test in wake of a failed missile launch and ahead of the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Army, which takes place Tuesday.
North Korea conducted two of its five nuclear tests last year and is believed to be working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that could reach the mainland U.S.
“Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a U.S. nuclear powered aircraft carrier with a single strike," according to North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party’s newspaper, the Rodong Sinmum.
The paper also likened the USS Carl Vinson to a “gross animal” and said a strike on the carrier would be “an actual example to show our military’s force.”
President Trump ordered the USS Carl Vinson to sail to waters off the Korean Peninsula in response to the rising tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile tests and threats to attack the U.S. and its allies. Vice President Pence said Saturday that group would arrive “within days.”
The Vinson and two other U.S. warships were joined by two Japanese destroyers as they continued their journey north in the western Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Navy said in a statement. The U.S. group also includes a guided-missile cruiser and a guided-missile destroyer.
The aircraft carrier had canceled a scheduled visit to Australia to divert toward North Korea in a show of force, though it still conducted a curtailed training exercise with Australia before doing so.
The Navy called the exercise "routine" and said it is designed to improve combined maritime response and defense capabilities, as well as joint maneuvering proficiency.
The Vinson group has conducted three previous bilateral exercises with the Japanese Navy since leaving San Diego on Jan. 5 for a western Pacific deployment. The most recent one was in March.
Analysts believe that North Korea could be gearing up for its sixth nuclear test in wake of a failed missile launch and ahead of the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Army, which takes place Tuesday.
North Korea conducted two of its five nuclear tests last year and is believed to be working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that could reach the mainland U.S.
Government may face legal action over delay to air pollution plan
Fresh legal action could be taken against the Government after it sought to delay publishing plans to tackle air pollution until after the General Election on 8 June.
The Government was given until 4pm on Monday by the courts to set out its plans to reduce illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution which is largely caused by diesel emissions.
It followed a ruling last year that existing measures put forward by ministers did to meet legal requirements.
However, on Friday the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) lodged a new application with the High Court to hold up publication until after the 8 June poll.
Defra argued the move was necessary in order to comply with election "purdah" rules on government announcements during the election period.
The environmental law firm which brought the original case against the Government, ClientEarth, said it was considering whether to challenge the application.
Chief executive James Thornton said: "The unacceptable last minute nature of the Government's application late on Friday night, after the court had closed, has meant that we have spent the weekend considering our response.
"We are still examining our next steps. This is a question of public health and not of politics and for that reason we believe that the plans should be put in place without delay.
"Whichever party ends up in power after the June 8 will need this air quality plan to begin finally to tackle our illegal levels of pollution and prevent further illness and early deaths from poisonous toxins in the air we breathe.
"The Government has had five months to draft this plan and it should be published."
The deadline for publication passes at 4pm but it is thought that it may be a couple of days before the court decides whether to grant the application.
Shadow environment secretary Sue Hayman said: "With nearly 40 million people in the UK living in areas with illegal levels of air pollution, it is simply not acceptable for ministers to hide behind the general election to delay publishing plans to improve air quality.
"Purdah rules exist to stop one party using the machinery of government for their electoral advantage, not to be used as an excuse to delay acting on vital public health matters. We trust that the court will recognise this."
The Government was given until 4pm on Monday by the courts to set out its plans to reduce illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution which is largely caused by diesel emissions.
It followed a ruling last year that existing measures put forward by ministers did to meet legal requirements.
However, on Friday the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) lodged a new application with the High Court to hold up publication until after the 8 June poll.
Defra argued the move was necessary in order to comply with election "purdah" rules on government announcements during the election period.
The environmental law firm which brought the original case against the Government, ClientEarth, said it was considering whether to challenge the application.
Chief executive James Thornton said: "The unacceptable last minute nature of the Government's application late on Friday night, after the court had closed, has meant that we have spent the weekend considering our response.
"We are still examining our next steps. This is a question of public health and not of politics and for that reason we believe that the plans should be put in place without delay.
"Whichever party ends up in power after the June 8 will need this air quality plan to begin finally to tackle our illegal levels of pollution and prevent further illness and early deaths from poisonous toxins in the air we breathe.
"The Government has had five months to draft this plan and it should be published."
The deadline for publication passes at 4pm but it is thought that it may be a couple of days before the court decides whether to grant the application.
Shadow environment secretary Sue Hayman said: "With nearly 40 million people in the UK living in areas with illegal levels of air pollution, it is simply not acceptable for ministers to hide behind the general election to delay publishing plans to improve air quality.
"Purdah rules exist to stop one party using the machinery of government for their electoral advantage, not to be used as an excuse to delay acting on vital public health matters. We trust that the court will recognise this."
Egg freezing offered as perk to female employees
British companies are in talks with IVF clinics about offering egg freezing as a perk for female employees.
The UK's largest private chain of clinics, CARE Fertility, said businesses are exploring the possibilities.
The benefit would allow women in their 20s or 30s to focus on their careers, wait until they meet the right partner, or are financially stable.
Apple and Facebook have been offering subsidised egg freezing up to a cost of £16,000 for staff for the last two years.
They have said it empowers women and offers them other choices.
Clinical director of CARE London, Rob Smith, said companies are interested in giving career-driven millennials new options.
He also said it is not just about careers, or for those who have not met the right partner, it is also for couples conceiving later in life.
"They will be able to conceive the first baby most likely with quite a high degree of success," he told Sky News.
"However, after that child gets to two or three they will want to try again and they will find themselves getting towards 40.
"Successful pregnancy at that age is very low indeed so by freezing eggs earlier on they will just have that guarantee at the back of their mind.
"If there are any problems later on they have this option to turn back to."
Those criticising the idea have said it encourages women to delay having children during their natural childbearing years which they believe is not the answer.
Josephine Quintavalle from Comment of Reproductive Ethics said the answer lies in a more equal society rather than offering discounted egg freezing.
"If you think you're emancipated by doing this I'd say to women 'wake up'.
"This is not what female emancipation is about.
"I think a lot of people have been taken in by IVF and think it's an easy option but when it's been done purely to protect their job I think it's extraordinary that women think this is liberating."
Sarah Bagg, 40, froze her eggs when she was 39 years old after coming out of a long-term relationship.
"I guess I went into panic mode about the fact that I was 38 at the time and I've always wanted children," she said.
"I wanted to take some action because obviously I'm very aware of my age and so egg freezing seemed like a sensible choice at the time.
"I think options are always a good idea and it's down to the individual whether it's right for them given their personal circumstances.
"Whether they want children, how passionately they feel about that, and whether it's something they're prepared to risk leaving it to science rather than to nature to take its course."
The UK's largest private chain of clinics, CARE Fertility, said businesses are exploring the possibilities.
The benefit would allow women in their 20s or 30s to focus on their careers, wait until they meet the right partner, or are financially stable.
Apple and Facebook have been offering subsidised egg freezing up to a cost of £16,000 for staff for the last two years.
They have said it empowers women and offers them other choices.
Clinical director of CARE London, Rob Smith, said companies are interested in giving career-driven millennials new options.
He also said it is not just about careers, or for those who have not met the right partner, it is also for couples conceiving later in life.
"They will be able to conceive the first baby most likely with quite a high degree of success," he told Sky News.
"However, after that child gets to two or three they will want to try again and they will find themselves getting towards 40.
"Successful pregnancy at that age is very low indeed so by freezing eggs earlier on they will just have that guarantee at the back of their mind.
"If there are any problems later on they have this option to turn back to."
Those criticising the idea have said it encourages women to delay having children during their natural childbearing years which they believe is not the answer.
Josephine Quintavalle from Comment of Reproductive Ethics said the answer lies in a more equal society rather than offering discounted egg freezing.
"If you think you're emancipated by doing this I'd say to women 'wake up'.
"This is not what female emancipation is about.
"I think a lot of people have been taken in by IVF and think it's an easy option but when it's been done purely to protect their job I think it's extraordinary that women think this is liberating."
Sarah Bagg, 40, froze her eggs when she was 39 years old after coming out of a long-term relationship.
"I guess I went into panic mode about the fact that I was 38 at the time and I've always wanted children," she said.
"I wanted to take some action because obviously I'm very aware of my age and so egg freezing seemed like a sensible choice at the time.
"I think options are always a good idea and it's down to the individual whether it's right for them given their personal circumstances.
"Whether they want children, how passionately they feel about that, and whether it's something they're prepared to risk leaving it to science rather than to nature to take its course."
French election: Emmanuel Macron beats Marine Le Pen
Emmanuel Macron has won the first round of the French presidential election, Interior Ministry figures showed.
The independent centrist and far-right Front National leader Marine Le Pen were the top two candidates in the contest.
They will now go head-to-head in a run off on 7 May. Polls have consistently shown Mr Macron well ahead.
Emmanuel Macron, 39, started his own movement En Marche! just over a year ago.
:: Who is Emmanuel Macron?
At a rally in Paris he told supporters: "In your name, I will be... the voice of hope for our country and for Europe."
"I want to be the president of the patriots against the threat of nationalists," he said.
Projections shows Ms Le Pen finished in second, closely behind Mr Macron.
At a rally in the northern town of Henin-Beaumont she urged supporters to fight on against an "arrogant elite".
The independent centrist and far-right Front National leader Marine Le Pen were the top two candidates in the contest.
They will now go head-to-head in a run off on 7 May. Polls have consistently shown Mr Macron well ahead.
Emmanuel Macron, 39, started his own movement En Marche! just over a year ago.
:: Who is Emmanuel Macron?
At a rally in Paris he told supporters: "In your name, I will be... the voice of hope for our country and for Europe."
"I want to be the president of the patriots against the threat of nationalists," he said.
Projections shows Ms Le Pen finished in second, closely behind Mr Macron.
At a rally in the northern town of Henin-Beaumont she urged supporters to fight on against an "arrogant elite".
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