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Amnesty: Civilians treated like 'pawns in a deadly game'
An Amnesty International report has said that the civilians in Syria are being treated like 'pawns in a deadly game'.
Philip Luther, Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa Programme director, said: “Civilians of Yarmouk are being treated like pawns in a deadly game in which they have no control.”
The report highlights that government forces and their allies have repeatedly carried out attacks, including air raids and shelling with heavy weapons, on civilian buildings such as schools, hospitals and a mosque in Yarmouk.
Read: Syria government 'using starvation as a weapon of war'
Codes to give energy customers 'easy comparison tool'
Quick Response Codes will enable customers to compare the best energy deals with a "simple swipe of the phone", Ed Davey has claimed.
The Government said it was introducing the scheme because companies "still haven't done anything about it" despite evidence that it could make a real difference to customers.
The Energy and Climate Secretary said:
We’re determined to make energy markets work better for consumers – and despite all the evidence showing that QR codes on bills would make a real difference to people, energy companies still haven’t done anything about it.
That’s why we’re acting to make sure people have a quick, straightforward way to compare the best deal for them with a simple swipe of their phone.
With so many of us using smart phones and tablets nowadays it would be strange if we weren’t using the latest technology to help us save money at home.
Read: Govt to introduce Quick Response codes to energy bills
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Govt to introduce Quick Response codes to energy bills
The Government says it will put "consumers in control of their energy bills" by introducing Quick Response codes to energy bills.
Customers will be able to get an instant cross-market comparison under the plans, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said.
The codes will allow smartphone users to transfer data from their bill to their smartphone and computer which will help customers control their energy consumption and costs.
The Government said it was taking action as there had been no "voluntary move" by the energy sector to introduce QR codes.
Mr Davey also suggested that vulnerable customers who do not use smart phones would benefit from the scheme as they could receive additional support from family and friends on their energy costs.
Syrian army accused of using starvation as a 'weapon'
The Syrian army has been accused of using starvation as a “weapon of war” in a siege on a refugee camp on the outskirts of Damascus, Amnesty International said.
The human rights watchdog said.said early 200 people, including 18 children and babies, have died since the army tightened a siege and cut access to food and medicine to civilians in the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in July.
"Life in Yarmouk has grown increasingly unbearable for desperate civilians who find themselves starving and trapped in a downward cycle of suffering with no means of escape,” Philip Luther, Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa Programme director, said in the report.
Floating 'yellow object' not life raft from missing plane
A floating "yellow object" discovered in the sea is not a life raft from the missing Malaysian Airlines jet, Vietnam's civil aviation authority has said.
"It has salvaged the object, at the notice and request by Malaysia's rescue centre, 130 km southwest of Tho Chu island. The object has been identified as a moss-covered cap of a cable reel," the civil aviation authority of Vietnam said on its website.
'Overwhelming response' to search for missing jet
The response to the search for the missing Malaysian Airlines jet from neighbouring countries and international agencies has been "overwhelming", the Malaysian acting transportation minister has said.
Hishammuddin Hussein said coordinating the search effort had not been easy, but revealed the situation was now "moving very, very fast".
"Let us pray that we get some more positive results in the near future," he added.
The minister also warned the media against publishing any unverified information to avoid causing distress to the families of the 239 missing passengers.
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World awaits news on missing Malaysian Airlines flight
Read: Vietnam send helicopters to 'check possible life raft'
Cooler weather set to follow hottest day of year
Temperatures are set to fall to a more normal spring level this week after parts of Britain experienced the hottest weather of the year so far yesterday.
Britons enjoyed temperatures of up to 20C for the first time in nearly six months, after spell of torrid winter weather.
Despite the predicted 6C fall, forecasters have said the coming week will remain dry.
However, the weather may change towards the end of the week with rain possibly moving into some northern areas as the high pressure system that brought the warm spell retreats.
Pistorius security guard testifies on phone records
Security guard Pieter Baba has returned to the stand, and defence lawyer Barry Roux is taking him through the telephone records on the night of the shooting.
Read: Pistorius told security 'everything fine' after shooting
Roux says records show Pistorius made a call to security at 3:21am. Roux says Baba returned the call at 3:22am.
Baba insists he called Pistorius first. Roux says Baba's call was in response to the initial call Pistorius made.
Hague to meet with the Polish foreign minister Sikorski
David Cameron is expected to make a statement to the House of Commons this morning on the conclusions of EU Council about Ukraine.
William Hague is also set to meet with the Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski, with both expected to answer questions before lunchtime.
Russia wants to find a peaceful resolution to the Crimea crisis, Vladimir Putin has told David Cameron in a telephone conversation, Downing Street said.
He will discuss the idea - a key demand of the US and Europe alongside the withdrawal of armed forces that have taken control of the province - with his foreign minister Sergey Lavrov.
Read: William Hague - Russia's Ukraine intervention a 'miscalculation'
