Normandy Priest Killer's Cousin Is Charged

The cousin of one of the men who killed a priest in Normandy has been charged with knowing an attack was imminent.

The 30-year-old, named as Farid K, appeared before a judge in Paris as Muslims across France displayed their solidarity with the Catholic community in light of the gruesome killing.

Farid K, from Nancy, is the cousin of Abdelmalik Petitjean, who was shot dead by police after he and another man, Adel Kermiche, slit the throat of Father Jacques Hamel, 86, in his church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray. 

Father Jacques Hamel was killed in the attack

He is accused of knowing that his cousin would imminently commit a violent attack - though not the place or the date.

Petitjean's stepfather has said that the pair had spent time together and at times lived together.

Another man, a Syrian refugee, was released by police, while a minor initially detained in connection with the attack will not be prosecuted over the incident, though may face separate charges in relation to materials found on his computer.

Adel Kermiche (L) and Abdelmalik Petitjean (R)

At Rouen cathedral, near the church where the victim was killed on Tuesday last week, more than 100 Muslims gathered to join in prayer with Catholics.

During the service, which focused on the memory of Father Jacques, Rouen Archbishop Dominique Lebrun expressed his gratitude for their gesture.

Sunday's mass at Rouen cathedral

He said: "I thank you in the name of all Christians. In this way you are affirming that you reject death and violence in the name of God."

He told Sky News he was grateful for their "courageous act", as some within the Muslim community believe it is not acceptable to enter a church.

The head of the French Muslim council had proclaimed "we are all Catholics in France" in the wake of the attack, and called on the community to show their "solidarity and compassion".

Other interfaith gatherings took place around the country.

More than 100 Muslims attended the service

In Lyon, a "brotherhood march" followed the religious ceremonies, where hundreds marched in silence carrying banners that read, "This is not a religious war" and "We are all brothers and sisters".

Prime Minister Manuel Valls has called for a new "pact" with the Muslim community in France, after renewed fears of possible religious tensions.

He said: "Islam has found its place in France ... contrary to the repeated attacks of populists on the right and far-right.

"This intolerable rejection of Islam and Muslims... must be combated - and it is - with the greatest strength."

The French government has come under pressure over perceived security lapses, following the Bastille Day attack in Nice, when a jihadist drove a truck through crowds, killing 84 people.

Mr Valls was booed as he attended a tribute to the victims, and faces further questions after it emerged that the two Normandy attackers had been on the radar of the intelligence services and had previously tried to enter Syria.

UK Terror Attack 'When, Not If' - Police Chief

The head of the Metropolitan Police has warned that a terror attack in Britain is a case of "when, not if".

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, commenting in light of a series of recent jihadist assaults in Europe, said the UK faces a "very real" threat.

He wrote in the Mail on Sunday: "I feel and understand that fear, and as the police officer in charge of preventing such an attack I know you want me to reassure you.

"I am afraid I cannot do that entirely. Our threat level ... means an attack is highly likely - you could say it is a case of when, not if."

Sir Bernard said the UK faces a "very real" threat

The national threat level has been at 'severe' since August 2014 - one below the highest level of 'critical', which means an attack is expected imminently.

Sir Bernard said British gun control laws and the "world-beater" relationship between police, MI5 and MI6 makes the UK environment "immediately hostile" to terror attempts.  

He also highlighted the number of terror plots that have been foiled since the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby in May 2013, including one to attack officers at a police station in Shepherd's Bush and a plan to kill soldiers at a US Air Force base in East Anglia.

Counter terror police are currently investigating the attempted abduction of a serviceman at RAF Marham in Norfolk, but other motives have not been ruled out.

E-fit images released of RAF Marham attempted abduction

Britain's top officer also praised the nation's "tolerance and acceptance", saying that the "shared values" of communities also make the UK less susceptible to extremism. 

But he also said that the "British way of life and culture" made the UK hostile to terrorists.

He wrote that "defeating terrorism is as much about refusing to be afraid as anything else", and suggested that the public enjoyed a healthier relationship with officers than elsewhere in Europe because because officers are unarmed.

Scrap Pensions Triple Lock - Ex-Minister

Prime Minister Theresa May has insisted the government will keep the 'triple lock' which protects state pensions.

Number 10 was reacting to suggestions by a former pensions minister that scrapping the locks would save billions of pounds.

Baroness Altmann has warned that by 2020 the cost of safeguarding pensions in the current way would be "enormous".

The pensions 'triple lock' guarantees that state payments rise by the inflation rate, average earnings or a 2.5% safety net - whichever is highest.

It was introduced by the coalition government in 2010 and has been a source of political debate ever since.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: "The manifesto contains a commitment to protect the triple lock. That commitment still stands."

Lady Altmann, who left her post as pensions minister in the reshuffle earlier this month, told Sky News that she attempted to persuade David Cameron to use a 'double lock' system last year, but he refused for political reasons.

Describing the current safeguard as a "political gimmick", she said: "The problem with pensions policy is that politicians only want to think about the next few months, or the next year or two."

Lady Altmann has suggested that state pensions should increase in line with prices or earnings, claiming the 2.5% rise "really isn't a sensible policy as far as long-term policy making is concerned."

She called on politicians to focus on the long term, rather than "knee-jerk, headline, totemic policies", which she claimed "end up staying forever because nobody has got the courage" to revisit the issue.

"The double lock would still give pensioners much better protection than most other areas of the economy," she said.

"It is absolutely right that we must protect pensioners, and we should look at a double lock as the best way for the long term to really achieve that."

Debbie Abrahams, Labour's shadow work and pensions secretary, said: "Just months ago the Tories went to the country on a solemn promise to protect pensioners, saying their 'triple lock' was guaranteed, that people could trust them, now we hear they're considering dumping it.

"Make no mistake, this would be a grand betrayal - a shocking broken promise hitting pensioners in the pocket.

"The lesson here is that for all their words about doing the right thing, the Tories don't stand up for ordinary people."

Game Of Thrones Will End After Eighth Season

The popular TV show Game Of Thrones will conclude after its eighth season, broadcaster HBO has announced.

The announcement was made by the new programming president for the US cable network, Casey Bloys.

Mr Bloys, speaking during the Television Critics Association press tour, added that a possible spin-off programme may be made.

Executive producers David Benioff and DB Weiss have previously suggested that the series may be approaching its end.

Game Of Thrones was recently renewed for a shortened seventh season of seven episodes, instead of the usual 10.

The penultimate season will be broadcast next summer. The eighth and final season is expected to follow in 2018.

Game Of Thrones picked up 23 Emmy nominations this month, the most of any show.

The series is adapted from George R.R. Martin's novels and stars Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington.

Corbyn Victory Unlikely To Split Labour Party

When I interviewed Labour leadership hopeful Owen Smith earlier this week, I asked him if he was on a suicide mission.

"My mam has joined up", he said rather optimistically. "She might swing it."

Despite his maternal support, the Pontypridd MP challenging Jeremy Corbyn for the party's leadership has a tough fight ahead.

Last year, Mr Corbyn won the contest decisively with more votes than the other three candidates put together.

This year, 180,000 people have paid £25 to sign up to have their say in the contest.

Even Owen Smith's supporters admit privately around "two-thirds" of that number are likely to vote for Jeremy Corbyn.

Those who want to depose the Labour leader are relying on a softening of support among longer-standing members.

Mr Corbyn has been holding leadership rallies in the north of England

They hope the more this group hears from Mr Smith, the more they will like him.

But what if they are wrong? What will the 'rebels' do if Jeremy Corbyn wins again?

There are three options despairing Labour MPs are discussing over the summer.

The first is the nuclear option: a split. The party could divide in two and do battle over who gets to keep the "Labour" brand. This is a last resort.

Thanks to the bruising experience of the 1980s, when the 'Gang of Four' split from the Labour Party to form the SDP, Labour MPs are reluctant to press the red button again.

The second is a party within a party. Labour MPs unhappy with Jeremy Corbyn could form their own group in Westminster, electing a separate leader of the parliamentary party and even organising MPs to shadow frontbench roles.

In this scenario, the Speaker would have final say over which group would form the official opposition.

The third option is to simply accept the result - willingly or not - if Jeremy Corbyn wins again.

Unsurprisingly, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, chair of the Jeremy for Labour campaign, is calling on them to do exactly that.

In a statement, he said: "The democratic process is fundamental to Labour Party values and all candidates must commit to respecting the outcome of this election.

"We call on Owen Smith to condemn the minority of MPs supporting his campaign who are threatening to subvert the outcome of this election and cause enormous damage to the Labour Party."

Labour MPs might not like it, but if Mr Corbyn is re-elected with an overwhelming majority, they may have little option.

Corbyn Victory Unlikely To Split Labour Party

When I interviewed Labour leadership hopeful Owen Smith earlier this week, I asked him if he was on a suicide mission.

"My mam has joined up", he said rather optimistically. "She might swing it."

Despite his maternal support, the Pontypridd MP challenging Jeremy Corbyn for the party's leadership has a tough fight ahead.

Last year, Mr Corbyn won the contest decisively with more votes than the other three candidates put together.

This year, 180,000 people have paid £25 to sign up to have their say in the contest.

Even Owen Smith's supporters admit privately around "two-thirds" of that number are likely to vote for Jeremy Corbyn.

Those who want to depose the Labour leader are relying on a softening of support among longer-standing members.

Mr Corbyn has been holding leadership rallies in the north of England

They hope the more this group hears from Mr Smith, the more they will like him.

But what if they are wrong? What will the 'rebels' do if Jeremy Corbyn wins again?

There are three options despairing Labour MPs are discussing over the summer.

The first is the nuclear option: a split. The party could divide in two and do battle over who gets to keep the "Labour" brand. This is a last resort.

Thanks to the bruising experience of the 1980s, when the 'Gang of Four' split from the Labour Party to form the SDP, Labour MPs are reluctant to press the red button again.

The second is a party within a party. Labour MPs unhappy with Jeremy Corbyn could form their own group in Westminster, electing a separate leader of the parliamentary party and even organising MPs to shadow frontbench roles.

In this scenario, the Speaker would have final say over which group would form the official opposition.

The third option is to simply accept the result - willingly or not - if Jeremy Corbyn wins again.

Unsurprisingly, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, chair of the Jeremy for Labour campaign, is calling on them to do exactly that.

In a statement, he said: "The democratic process is fundamental to Labour Party values and all candidates must commit to respecting the outcome of this election.

"We call on Owen Smith to condemn the minority of MPs supporting his campaign who are threatening to subvert the outcome of this election and cause enormous damage to the Labour Party."

Labour MPs might not like it, but if Mr Corbyn is re-elected with an overwhelming majority, they may have little option.

Corbyn Victory Unlikely To Split Labour Party

When I interviewed Labour leadership hopeful Owen Smith earlier this week, I asked him if he was on a suicide mission.

"My mam has joined up", he said rather optimistically. "She might swing it."

Despite his maternal support, the Pontypridd MP challenging Jeremy Corbyn for the party's leadership has a tough fight ahead.

Last year, Mr Corbyn won the contest decisively with more votes than the other three candidates put together.

This year, 180,000 people have paid £25 to sign up to have their say in the contest.

Even Owen Smith's supporters admit privately around "two-thirds" of that number are likely to vote for Jeremy Corbyn.

Those who want to depose the Labour leader are relying on a softening of support among longer-standing members.

Mr Corbyn has been holding leadership rallies in the north of England

They hope the more this group hears from Mr Smith, the more they will like him.

But what if they are wrong? What will the 'rebels' do if Jeremy Corbyn wins again?

There are three options despairing Labour MPs are discussing over the summer.

The first is the nuclear option: a split. The party could divide in two and do battle over who gets to keep the "Labour" brand. This is a last resort.

Thanks to the bruising experience of the 1980s, when the 'Gang of Four' split from the Labour Party to form the SDP, Labour MPs are reluctant to press the red button again.

The second is a party within a party. Labour MPs unhappy with Jeremy Corbyn could form their own group in Westminster, electing a separate leader of the parliamentary party and even organising MPs to shadow frontbench roles.

In this scenario, the Speaker would have final say over which group would form the official opposition.

The third option is to simply accept the result - willingly or not - if Jeremy Corbyn wins again.

Unsurprisingly, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, chair of the Jeremy for Labour campaign, is calling on them to do exactly that.

In a statement, he said: "The democratic process is fundamental to Labour Party values and all candidates must commit to respecting the outcome of this election.

"We call on Owen Smith to condemn the minority of MPs supporting his campaign who are threatening to subvert the outcome of this election and cause enormous damage to the Labour Party."

Labour MPs might not like it, but if Mr Corbyn is re-elected with an overwhelming majority, they may have little option.