Factions and fighting: The battle tearing UKIP apart

UKIP's infighting took a literal and brutal turn, after Steven Woolfe, the leading contender to take over the party's leadership, ended up in hospital after being attacked by another MEP.

It marks the latest incredible twist in UKIP's history of feuding and follows a fractious leadership contest over the summer prompted by Nigel Farage's decision to step aside.

So why after such a victorious June, on the winning side in the EU referendum, is the party again at breaking point?

Well, the punch-up between two UKIP MEPs was allegedly over suggestions that Mr Woolfe had been considering defecting to the Conservatives.

Maybe not a surprise when he believes he was deliberately stopped from running for the leadership in July by members of the National Executive Committee.

UKIP is not a big party, there really are very few people at the top, and so like any small "community" loyalty is expected and disagreements almost inevitable.

But the schism within UKIP is bigger than that, it essentially boils down to the Farage supporters and those who dislike, even hate him.

Nigel Farage continues to dominate the party externally and internally.

On the one side you have Douglas Carswell - UKIP's only MP, Suzanne Evans and Patrick O'Flynn - who don't like Farage's illiberal focus, message on immigration and how he has managed the party.

And on the other side, most of the party's MEPs, councillors, Steven Woolfe and the party's major bankroller Arron Banks are loyal to Farage, ultimately because he has taken the party so far.

Mr Banks has told me if Neil Hamilton and Douglas Carswell remain in the party, and the NEC decides that Steven Woolfe cannot run for leader, he will be leaving UKIP.

It would be a bitter blow as he is one of very few donors.

The two sides are locked in an almighty battle and have been for some time. As Arron Banks alludes to, something will have to give.

I'm told Suzanne Evans is almost certain to run for the leadership.

So it would be Woolfe versus Evans, both could prove to be successful leaders but would take UKIP in different directions.

I'm not convinced such a small party can continue much longer to accommodate both without meteorically tearing itself apart. 

Haiti cholera fears after Hurricane Matthew kills hundreds

Medics in Haiti are preparing for a likely surge in cholera cases as the nation is left with damaged water supplies in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.

The deadly hurricane has battered the Caribbean, with Haiti the worst-hit.

Officials have said the number killed on the island nation has risen to 339 while more than 3,200 homes have been destroyed.

Some 21,000 survivors are now seeking refuge at just 152 shelters as the deadly storm moves on towards the US east coast.

Four people have also been killed in the Dominican Republic, one in Colombia and one in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Red Cross has launched an emergency appeal to provide immediate relief to 50,000 Haitians. It is aiming to raise more than £5m for medical relief, shelter, water and sanitation over the next year. 

Health officials in Haiti are bracing themselves for an increase in cases of cholera due to severely damaged water supplies and sanitation systems.

"Due to massive flooding and its impact on water and sanitation infrastructure, cholera cases are expected to surge after Hurricane Matthew and through the normal rainy season until the start of 2017," the Pan American Health Organization said in a statement.

Even before the storm hit this week, the impoverished nation was struggling to stem the water-borne disease.

Image Caption:Rescuers are struggling to reach more remote areas

Rescue workers are struggling to reach remote areas due to flooded roads, collapsed bridges and power outages.

The southern city of Jeremie is said to have suffered "complete destruction", while a bridge over the La Digue river in Petit Goave has been destroyed.

In Les Cayes, home to a major port, a cathedral roof has been completely blown off, and banana and mango crops have been ravaged in fields.

The Haitian government has estimated at least 350,000 people will need some sort of help following the disaster.

The UK is sending a team of humanitarian experts, International Development Secretary Priti Patel said.

"Homes have been destroyed, loved ones have been lost and people's livelihoods shattered. The British people will be there for those in need," she said.

Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury push for closer ties

The Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury say they will work together to help the poor, despite the differences that remain between the two churches.

They heads of the Catholic and Anglican churches also pledged to help protect the environment as they held meetings in the Vatican to mark the 50th anniversary of the start of theological discussion between the two faiths.

Differences remain over attitudes to women priests and gay marriage, but a joint statement emphasised their common ground.

"We can, and must, work together to protect and preserve our common home," it said.

"Living, teaching and acting in ways that favour a speedy end to the environmental destruction that offends the Creator and degrades his creatures."

Pope Francis and Justin Welby promised to fight "a culture of waste" where the most vulnerable of people in society were marginalised and discarded, and to work together for peace.

They also say they will work to bring education, healthcare, food, clean water and shelter to the poor.

The pair held a joint service in Rome on Wednesday.

Pope Francis called the meeting "a beautiful sign of fraternity".

The Anglican communion has around 85 million members, while the Roman Catholic Church has about 1.2 billion.

After King Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic church in 1534 to start the Church of England, there were no meetings between the leaders of the two faiths for more than 400 years.

The first such meeting was in 1966, when the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey met Pope Paul VI.

Government approves fracking at one site in Lancashire

The Government has approved fracking for shale gas at one site in Lancashire but has asked for more information on another.

Permission has been granted for the extraction of shale gas from Preston New Road, near to Blackpool.

An application to drill at the Roseacre site, nearby, has been delayed.

It is understood the Government is minded to approve the permit for Roseacre but wants more time to look at further evidence.

Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Communities said: "The decisions follow extensive consideration of all the evidence, including an independent planning inspector's report and evidence submitted during a two week public inquiry.

"Shale gas has the potential to power economic growth, support 64,000 jobs, and provide a new domestic energy source, making us less reliant on imports.

"When it comes to the financial benefits of shale, our plans mean local communities benefit first.

"We will take the big decisions that matter to the future of our country as we build an economy that works for everyone, not just the privileged few."

Mr Javid's decision was made using new powers that allow him to overturn decisions made by local councils.

In mid-2015, Lancashire County Council rejected a planning application from Cuadrilla to carry out fracking at the two sites, on the basis that the work would cause too much traffic and noise.

Soon after, the power was given to Secretary of State to call in the decision and change it if an applicant could argue it was in the wider interest.

The decision was attacked by environmental groups and people living in the communities affected.

Pat Davies, Chair of Preston New Road Action Group, said: "This is a sad day as it is clear to all that this government neither listens nor can it be trusted to do the right thing for local communities."

She said it was "deplorable" that an industry rejected by local councils on every level "has inflicted itself on Preston New Road".

Friends of the Earth north-west campaigner, Helen Rimmer, added: "This fight continues until this unproven and unpopular industry disappears for good."

The decision was welcomed by Cuadrilla, whose chief executive Francis Egan, told Sky News: "It's a great result for the people of Lancashire and also a great result for the whole country because of the energy security that we can now start to explore, and replace some of the gas that we are importing at great expense to this country."

The fracking process - in which liquid is pumped deep underground at high pressure to fracture shale rock and release gas - remains highly controversial.

Protesters say it can cause earthquakes, pollute water, lead to damaging development in the countryside and hit house prices.

Licences have been granted to explore for the potential to frack across swathes of southern and northern England.

Theresa May said earlier this year that homes hit by the process could receive thousands of pounds in payouts.

But with many of the areas that could be affected represented by Conservative MPs, the issue has the potential to divide the Tories. 

Barbara Richardson, of the Roseacre Awareness Group, said: "While we are happy that there will be no fracking in Roseacre, our joy is obviously tempered by the decision to allow fracking to go ahead elsewhere in Lancashire. We will do what we can to support our friends at Preston New Road in their continuing fight."

Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey escorted back to hospital by police

Pauline Cafferkey, the nurse who contracted the Ebola virus, has been taken back into hospital.

She was transported in an ambulance with a police escort to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow this morning from her home in Cambuslang.

A statement said she was undergoing routine monitoring by the Infectious Diseases Team at the hospital, and her condition remains stable.

Ms Cafferkey, aged 40, was infected with the virus while working in Sierra Leone for Save The Children in 2014.

She has previously been admitted to hospital three times following her return to the UK.

Image Caption:The Scottish nurse volunteered to go to Sierra Leone in 2014

The children's nurse was cleared last month of professional misconduct, after she was accused of concealing her high temperature when she returned from West Africa. 

The Nursing and Midwifery Council had argued that she had "potentially put the public at risk" after being cleared to fly home while in the early stages of Ebola.

And it said she damaged trust in the nursing profession.

Ms Cafferkey said she would never have knowingly put anyone in danger. 

An independent panel found her fitness to practise was not affected, and three charges against her were not proven.

It ruled that her judgement, when she was screened at Heathrow airport, had been so impaired by the developing illness that she could not be found guilty of misconduct.

Her lawyer, Joyce Cullen, said: ''She willingly put her life at risk to travel to Sierra Leone to work as a volunteer helping to treat people suffering from Ebola.

Image Caption:The nurse was placed in an isolation tent when she was transferred from Glasgow to London in February

''She and hundreds of other volunteers played a vital role in saving lives, helping to curb the epidemic in extremely challenging circumstances.''

Ms Cafferkey was initially treated at the Royal Free Hospital in London, and was discharged in January 2015 after doctors said she had made a complete recovery and was not infectious.

But she was readmitted to hospital in October 2015 and again in February 2016 after suffering complications linked to the disease.

At one stage she was critically ill.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: "Sending my very best wishes to Pauline Cafferkey. She has already suffered way too much - & all for trying to help others. Thoughts with her."

Lack of diversity threatens future of London’s tech industry

The technology industry is still failing to tackle its diversity crisis, according to data released by an independent network of over 3,600 tech experts.

Almost half of London's technology companies (46%) do not believe a diverse workforce improves company growth, according to the report by Tech London Advocates.

"We need to face up to the fact that we have a serious issue with diversity in the technology industry," said Maggie Philbin, CEO of Teen Tech.

"Social background, gender and disability continues to trip up talent.

"By opening the right doors to help young people and the industry understand both the opportunities and the potential we can equip everyone to become a part of the tech revolution, not just the fortunate few."

Gender representation amongst technology companies in the capital is also unbalanced. Out of 40,000 firms based in London, nearly 1,000 have an entirely male workforce.

The survey also reveals more than one in three technology companies employ a majority of their staff from outside London.

"Diversity has been an ongoing challenge for the tech sector, however the business case for diversity is stronger now than ever," said Aftab Malhotra, founder of GrowthEnabler.

"The future growth for tech will come from emerging markets like India and China, and we need a diverse and digitally enabled workforce and a set of strong tech leaders to compete, collaborate and trade relations with these countries."

Employers are being encouraged to create an inclusive company from the top down and celebrate difference, through demanding diversity and inclusivity in all recruitment strategies.

EasyJet warns of £90m annual currency hit

EasyJet says it is expecting annual profits of up to £495m, below analysts' estimates, blaming the impact of a £90m currency hit.

In a trading update covering its full financial year to 30 September, the FTSE 100 airline said the collapse in sterling's value since the EU referendum had contributed £35m to that foreign exchange bill.

The company, which is mulling the need for a new European base in the wake of the Leave campaign's victory, said the impact of the currency movements would be partially offset by an expected fuel bill reduction of up to £80m in its second half.

Nevertheless, its pre-tax profit forecast - of between £490m and £495m - was below market expectations of more than £510m.

EasyJet issued a profit warning in June - the budget carrier saying then it expected revenue in the second half of the year to fall as a result of the "additional economic and consumer uncertainty [that] is likely this summer ... following the outcome of the EU referendum".

It had also warned of a £125m hit to full-year earnings from air traffic control strikes in France and passengers becoming more fearful of travel in the wake of terror attacks in Brussels and Paris.

It said on Thursday it had achieved a "record" three months of trading in its final quarter.

"Passenger numbers for the three months were a record 22 million with a strong load factor of 93.9%," easyJet said.

Carolyn McCall, easyJet's chief executive, said: "easyJet continues to attract record numbers of passengers due to its wide range of destinations, convenient flight times and value for money fares.

"We have been disproportionately affected by extraordinary events this year but our excellent network, cost control and revenue initiatives and our strong balance sheet underpin our confidence in the business.

"The current environment is tough for all airlines, but history shows that at times like this the strongest airlines become stronger."