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'Contingency plans in place' after helicopter grounding
A spokesperson for the Department of Health said that patients should ot be affected by the grounding of air ambulances:
– department of health spokespersonWe understand this isa precautionary measure and that contingency plans with other air ambulancesand ambulance services are in place to ensure patients are not affected.
John Terry goes shopping in Poundworld in Woking
John Terry may earn around £170,000 a week, but it seems the Chelsea captain still loves a bargain. He's been caught shopping in the aisles of a bargain store in Surrey. Jack Jeffrey from Woking FC's Academy was shopping at Poundworld at the time, and tweeted this picture.
A starstruck footballer ... meets Knaphill Athletic winger Jack Jeffery in Woking today ... #moptop http://t.co/UiXSltXRNc
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'No guarantee' on when Edmondson will be fit for trial
Ian Edmondson, former news editor at the now-defunct News of the World, will not be fit to face phone hacking charges in court for at least "several weeks" a judge said today.
Read: Former NotW news editor Ian Edmondson removal at 'consensus of doctors'
– Mr Justice SaundersI have received and read a number of medical reports about the fitness of Mr Edmondson to continue to participate in the current trial.
It is not anticipated that it will be long before he is fit to continue but it will be several weeks and there can be no guarantee that at the end of that period of time he will be fit.
Bearing in mind the current estimate of the length of this trial, I do not think it is appropriate to adjourn to wait for his recovery and accordingly I shall discharge you from giving a verdict in his case.
He will be tried by a different jury at a later date.
Mr Edmondson was charged with conspiring to hack phones along with former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks, former NotW editor Andy Coulson and the tabloid's former managing editor Stuart Kuttner.
Air ambulance suspension 'not result of Glasgow crash'
The partial suspension of the UK's air ambulance fleet is due to a discovery of a technical fault discovered on one, the Association of Air Ambulances said.
The grounding is as a result of a technical fault on one air ambulance aircraft with other Eurocopter EC135 in the UK and worldwide remaining operational at this time.
The suspension of operations is not as a result of the incident in Glasgow involving this type of aircraft on the 29th November, for which investigations continue.
– Association of Air AmbulancesBond Air Services are continuing to investigate the technical fault that has resulted in the temporary suspension of services from the afternoon of the 11th December 2013.
The investigations include functional testing across each of the EC135 aircraft affected to gather more information and will ensure air ambulance operations are regularly updated.
Edmondson removal from trial at 'consensus of doctors'
Former News of the World news editor Ian Edmondson is "currently unfit" to take part in a trial into phone hacking and has been removed under the instruction of doctors, a jury at the Old Bailey has heard.
Mr Edmondson, 44, will take no further part in the trial over alleged phone hacking at the now-defunct newspaper.
"The consensus of opinion of doctors instructed both by the defence and the prosecution is that he is currently unfit," Mr Justice Saunders told the jury.
He was accused of conspiring to hack phones between October 3 2000 and August 9 2006 while working at the former tabloid.
Mr Edmondson, of Raynes Park, south west London, will be tried by a different jury at a later date, the court heard.
How do UK MPs' salaries compare to other countries?
MPs will receive a bumper pay rise of 11%, under a pension and expenses reform package announced by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.
The pay rise means they will be among the better paid politicians within Europe, - the average salary of a French politician currently stands at £57,832 a year, whilst in Sweden it stands at around £71,500.
UK MPs will still be behind Germany though - their gross monthly salary is 7668 euros (£6,720) or £80,640 annually.
*Read: Debatable pay: How do MPs salaries vary home and abroad? *
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In pictures: Jaguar heroin haul
A Bradford man has appeared in court after heroin with an estimated street value of £40 million was found crammed into a Jaguar car.
Read the full storyFormer NotW editor 'unfit' for phone-hacking trial
Former News of the World news editor Ian Edmondson is "currently unfit" and will play no further part in the phone-hacking trial, the jury at the Old Bailey has been told.
16 air ambulance helicopters grounded across the UK
by Chris Ship - Deputy Political EditorWe have confirmed that 16 air ambulance helicopters, operated by Bond Air Services, are covered by the suspension.
Read: Helicopter operator ground part of fleet over 'defect'
The 16 air ambulances operate in the following areas:
- Dorset and Somerset
- East Anglia
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight
- The Midlands
- The North West (three helicopters suspended)
- Scotland (two helicopters)
- Thames Valley and the Chilterns
- Wales (three helicopters)
Cornwall has an EC135 helicopter, but it is being serviced and a replacement is in operation. Devon has an EC135 but it is not operated by Bond Air Services, so it is still flying.
Downton Abbey scoops Golden Globes nomination
ITV's Downton Abbey has been nominated for a prestigious Golden Globe award - for the third year in a row.
Read the full story