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Freezing temperatures push up wholesale gas prices 24 February 2018 Image copyright Getty Images Household energy bills could rise after a surge in wholesale gas prices sparked by the recent cold weather in the UK. Wholesale gas prices - which are strongly linked to supply and demand - have increased by 21% since the start of February and 14% in the past week. Temperatures are expected to dip to -6C (21.2F) in parts of the UK, with the expected use of energy to heat homes likely to increase wholesale prices. The government plans to impose a cap on energy bills in the coming weeks. Wholesale gas cost 58p per therm (p/th) on Friday - up 14% since Monday - putting prices at a three-and-a-half year high. It follows a surge in wholesale prices last December when the major Forties gas pipeline in Aberdeenshire shut, which carries crude North Sea oil. The UK is braced for the coldest February week in five years as freezing air arrives from Russia. What it means for bills Higher wholesale prices could drive up the cost of household heating, as well as the cost of electricity - since the price of electricity generated from gas power stations tends to set the wholesale cost of power paid to all generators. However, competition between energy suppliers could keep tariffs low, said Henry Edwardes-Evans, of energy commodities assessors Platts. He said wholesale gas prices have been climbing ahead of the big freeze, but adds it "may be premature" to assume household bills will go up straight away. He said: "Suppliers need a sustained rise in wholesale prices to prompt that, especially in today's politically charged - and very competitive - household tariff environment." An influential committee of MPs have meanwhile called for the government's planned cap on energy bills to be introduced urgently to stop consumers from being overcharged. But Centrica, the UK's biggest energy company. said the proposed cap was one reason behind its plans to shed 4,000 jobs. View the full article

Anti-depressants: Major study finds they work By Alex Therrien Health reporter, BBC News 22 February 2018 Image copyright Getty Images Scientists say they have settled one of medicine's biggest debates after a huge study found that anti-depressants work. The study, which analysed data from 522 trials involving 116,477 people, found 21 common anti-depressants were all more effective at reducing symptoms of acute depression than dummy pills. But it also showed big differences in how effective each drug is. The authors of the report, published in the Lancet, said it showed many more people could benefit from the drugs. There were 64.7 million prescriptions for the drugs in England in 2016 - more than double the 31 million in 2006 - but there has been a debate about how effective they are, with some trial suggesting they are no better than placebos. The Royal College of Psychiatrists said the study "finally puts to bed the controversy on anti-depressants". The so-called meta-analysis, which involved unpublished data in addition to the information from the 522 clinical trials involving the short-term treatment of acute depression in adults, found the medications were all more effective than placebos. However, the study found they ranged from being a third more effective than a placebo to more than twice as effective. Lead researcher Dr Andrea Cipriani, from the University of Oxford, told the BBC: "This study is the final answer to a long-standing controversy about whether anti-depressants work for depression. "We found the most commonly prescribed anti-depressants work for moderate to severe depression and I think this is very good news for patients and clinicians." Anti-depressants - the most and least effective Image copyright Getty Images The most effective: agomelatine amitriptyline escitalopram mirtazapine paroxetine The least effective: fluoxetine fluvoxamine reboxetine trazodone 'Compelling evidence' The study's authors said the findings could help doctors to pick the right prescription, but it did not mean everyone should be switching medications. That is because the study looked at the average effect of drugs rather than how they worked for individuals of different ages or gender, the severity of symptoms and other characteristics. Researchers added that most of the data in the meta-analysis covered eight weeks of treatment, so the findings might not apply to longer-term use. And they said it did not mean that anti-depressants should always be the first form of treatment. At least one million more people in the UK would benefit from treatments, including anti-depressants, they said. "Medication should always be considered alongside other options, such as psychological therapies, where these are available," Dr Cipriani added. You might also be interested in: Soaring rates of measles in Europe The dirtiest place in your kitchen might surprise you Jamie Oliver closes flagship restaurant Prof Carmine Pariante, from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: "This meta-analysis finally puts to bed the controversy on anti-depressants, clearly showing that these drugs do work in lifting mood and helping most people with depression. "Importantly, the paper analyses unpublished data held by pharmaceutical companies, and shows that the funding of studies by these companies does not influence the result, thus confirming that the clinical usefulness of these drugs is not affected by pharma-sponsored spin." Glyn Lewis, professor of psychiatric epidemiology at University College London, said the "excellent" study provided "compelling evidence" for the effectiveness of anti-depressants. He added: "Anti-depressants often receive a 'bad press' but this paper shows they have a role in the management for people with depression." View the full article

Oxfam boss Mark Goldring 'sorry' over Haiti scandal 20 February 2018 Related TopicsOxfam Haiti scandal Image caption Mark Goldring has been at Oxfam since 2013 Oxfam's chief executive Mark Goldring has said he is sorry for the damage the charity has done to the people of Haiti and the wider efforts of aid workers. He is facing questions from MPs on the International Development Committee about the sexual misconduct of some staff after the 2010 Haiti earthquake. In 10 days, 7,000 people have cancelled regular donations, MPs were told. Mr Goldring also apologised for remarks made about murdering babies in cots which he made in defending Oxfam. In an interview with the Guardian last week, he said: "The intensity and ferocity of the attack makes you wonder, what did we do? We murdered babies in their cots?" Mr Goldring, who joined the charity in 2013, said he was "deeply sorry" for the comments that he had made while "under stress". LIVE: MPs question charity bosses How the Oxfam scandal unfolded Earlier this month, the Times newspaper published allegations that Oxfam aid workers in Haiti had used prostitutes. Oxfam, which has almost 10,000 staff working in more than 90 countries, denied a cover-up but its handling of the scandal is being investigated by the Charity Commission. Since the story broke, Mr Goldring said 26 reports of recent and historic incidents have been made by Oxfam workers - 16 of them outside the UK. Of the scandal, he said: "I am sorry, we are sorry, for the damage Oxfam has done both to the people of Haiti but also to wider efforts for aid and development by possibly undermining public support." Image copyright AFP Image caption Winnie Byanyima said she was ashamed by what happened in Haiti Caroline Thomson, the chair of trustees, and Winnie Byanyima, executive director of Oxfam International, both told the committee they were "ashamed" of what happened in Haiti. Ms Byanyima said she has spent her life protecting women. "This is painful for me," she added. Ms Thomson, who became chairwoman of Oxfam's trustees in 2017, said the charity council's task was to ensure it is "never again" at risk of being perceived to have put reputation over accountability. Mr Goldring said there was now a safeguarding team and helpline at Oxfam and the charity was seeking more independent support. Committee chairman Stephen Twigg said his committee would conduct a full inquiry into sexual misconduct in the aid sector in the wake of the scandal. 'Bullying and intimidation' A redacted version of an internal report from 2011, released on Monday, revealed that three of the men accused of sexual misconduct in Haiti physically threatened witnesses during an investigation. It also showed: One Oxfam employee was dismissed and three resigned for using prostitutes on Oxfam premises. The use of underage prostitutes was not ruled out Two more were dismissed for bullying and intimidation - one of whom also downloaded pornography Another man was sacked for failing to protect staff During the committee hearing, it emerged that one of them was re-employed for Oxfam on a short-term contract in another country. Image copyright VRT Image caption Mr Van Hauwermeiren worked in Chad from 2006-09 before going to Haiti in 2010 In the report, the charity said director of operations in Haiti, Roland Van Hauwermeiren, "admitted using prostitutes" at his Oxfam residence. Last week, he denied paying prostitutes for sex. He was granted a "phased and dignified exit" and was allowed to resign, the report added, so long as he fully co-operated with the rest of the 2011 investigation. It is not known if he was one of the suspects accused of threatening witnesses. The BBC has discovered that one of the staff dismissed from Oxfam for gross misconduct in Haiti was Raphael Mutiku, a Kenyan aid worker based outside the capital Nairobi. Asked by a reporter whether he had been with Mr Van Hauwermeiren, Mr Mutiku said "no". As he got into a vehicle, he was asked why he had been let go by Oxfam but not did not answer. 'Smorgasbord of women' A source, who was aware of the investigation and was in Haiti at the time, told the BBC that drivers were forced to deliver prostitutes to Oxfam villas. "They were having parties over there that were described as orgies with a smorgasbord of women, girls, wearing Oxfam T-shirts. It would go on all night. "We were told they were underage. The security guards, the drivers were talking about it not directly - indirectly - because if they talked to anyone about it they would lose their jobs." Oxfam UK boss: Attacks 'out of proportion' How much UK money goes to Oxfam? 'Sex between locals and employees' UN aid agencies fear Oxfam backlash The report called for tighter safeguarding across the industry to stop disgraced aid workers moving to new posts. Despite the warning, several of those implicated subsequently worked for other aid organisations, or moved to other posts within Oxfam. In the wake of the revelations, MPs on the international development committee convened an urgent session to investigate the crisis. BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale said the focus was likely to be on Mark Goldring's leadership, as a number of people, including former international development minister Priti Patel, have called for him to resign. MPs are also expected to ask Save the Children's chief Kevin Watkins about his charity's response to the issues raised. DfID's permanent secretary Matthew Rycroft will tell the committee about the department's knowledge of the situation. Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning Oxfam has said it released the internal report because it wanted to be "as transparent as possible" about decisions made. On Monday, Oxfam regional director for Latin America Simon Ticehurst presented the original, unedited report to the government in Haiti and formally apologised. He said the charity would be starting "the long road ahead of re-establishing trust and partnership" with Haiti and was ready to engage with Haitian people and co-operate with their government. Oxfam has said it will set up a commission to investigate past and present allegations of exploitation by staff. Its deputy chief executive, Penny Lawrence, resigned earlier this month over the handling of the scandal, saying she took full responsibility. Meanwhile, ministers have said Oxfam has agreed to stop bidding for UK government funding until it can show it meets the "high standards" required. Do you have any information related to this story that you wish to share? Please email [email protected]. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: WhatsApp: +447555 173285 Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay Send an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 Or comment here: Your contact details Name (optional) Your E-mail address (required) Town & Country (optional) Your telephone number (optional) Comments (required) If you are happy to be contacted by a BBC journalist please leave a telephone number that we can contact you on. In some cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name as you provide it and location, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. When sending us pictures, video or eyewitness accounts at no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. 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Earthquake felt across parts of UK 17 February 2018 Image copyright British Geological Survey Image caption A seismograph shows the earth's movements on Saturday afternoon A minor earthquake with a 4.4 magnitude has affected parts of Wales and England. Shaking has been reported across south Wales, the south west of England and the Midlands. The British Geological Survey said the epicentre was approximately 20km north-north-east of Swansea and at a depth of 7.4km. Events of this magnitude only happen in the UK every 2-3 years, it added. Image Copyright @swpcardiff @swpcardiff Report Image Copyright @swpcardiff @swpcardiff Report Dyfed Powys Police force said it had received "an extremely high volume" of calls relating to tremors. Meanwhile, South Wales Police urged the public to avoid calling the emergency services unless it was to report damage or injuries. Steven Clathworthy, who lives near Bridgend, south Wales said he heard a bang the settee moved. "All the neighbours were out asking 'what's happening?'" he said. Bryan Jones, 72, of Treochy, Rhondda Cynon Taff, said: "It was like a tremor but it was quite frightening for my granddaughter - she swore a little bit and my wife got up asking 'What was that?'" 'The walls cracked' Vera Sanderberg, from Croyde in north Devon, said she felt her 10 bedroom house shake. "The neighbour's horses bolted," she said. "It was just a split second. We can't see anything damaged." In Cheltenham, Paul Samway said it felt like "a washing machine breaking down". "We heard the walls crack and there was a bit of juddering," he added. "We thought nothing of it until we saw reports from other people on social media." Have you been affected by the minor earthquake? You can email [email protected] with your experiences. Send us your pictures and videos. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: Whatsapp: +44 7525 900971 Send pictures/video to [email protected] Upload your pictures/video here Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay Send an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 Or use the form below Your contact details Name (optional) Your E-mail address (required) Town & Country (optional) Your telephone number (optional) Comments (required) If you are happy to be contacted by a BBC journalist please leave a telephone number that we can contact you on. In some cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name as you provide it and location, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. When sending us pictures, video or eyewitness accounts at no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. Please ensure you have read the terms and conditions. Terms and conditions View the full article

XXIII Olympic Winter Games Venue: Pyeongchang, South Korea Dates: 9-25 February Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, Red Button, Connected TVs, BBC Sport website and mobile app. Full coverage times Great Britain's Lizzy Yarnold defended her Winter Olympic title with a gold medal in the women's skeleton as team-mate Laura Deas claimed bronze. It took Britain's medal count on Saturday to three, after Izzy Atkin claimed a ski slopestyle bronze. Yarnold, having won gold at Sochi 2014, headed into the final run 0.02 seconds behind Austrian leader Janine Flock. But the 29-year-old clocked 51.46 seconds to go first, and a poor run from Flock saw Deas jump into bronze. It was a track record for Yarnold, whose total time of three minutes 27.28 seconds saw her finish 0.45 seconds ahead of German silver medalist Jacqueline Loelling. She becomes the first British athlete to retain a Winter Olympic title and, alongside bronzes for Deas and Atkins, it is the first time Britain have won three individuals medals on one day at Winter Games - eclipsing the two won in 1924. More to follow. View the full article

Merkel 'curious not frustrated' after Theresa May meeting 16 February 2018 comments Related TopicsBrexit Image copyright Reuters Angela Merkel has said she is "not frustrated" by the Brexit process but is "curious" to know more about the UK's aims after meeting Theresa May. The German chancellor said she hoped to establish "common ground" on trade issues in the coming months and wanted a "close partnership" of equals. Mrs May said she wanted a "bold and ambitious" trade partnership as well as a new security arrangement. But amid calls for more detail from the UK, she said it was a "two-way street". Friday's meeting between the two leaders at Berlin's Chancellery comes ahead of a speech on Saturday in which Mrs May will set out the "security partnership" she envisages with European partners at the annual Munich Security Conference. Johnson: Let's unite around Brexit vision Juncker angry at 'superstate' claims British ministers are making a series of speeches mapping out the "road to Brexit" to counter criticism that there is a lack of both vision and detail as to what relationship the UK wants once it leaves in March 2019. Asked whether she was frustrated by a lack of detail from the UK, Mrs Merkel said: "I'm not frustrated at all. I'm just curious how Britain envisages this future partnership and obviously we also have our own vested interests as regards, for example, economic commitments." She added: "We would like to preserve this close partnership and maybe both sides, in a way, are in a process of learning and trying to find out where we find common ground." "Sometimes we don't know how our opposite numbers see things. It is a process of learning," she said. Rights offer Mrs May's trip to Berlin comes as the UK and the EU attempt to agree details of the temporary "transition" period that will come immediately after Brexit day and is intended to smooth the path to the permanent post-Brexit relationship between the UK and the EU. Speaking after the last round of talks, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said "substantial" disagreements remained and he had "some problems understanding the UK's position". On Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson attempted to appeal to Remain supporters, urging people to unite behind his vision of a "liberal Brexit". The devolution of powers, workers' rights and trade are also expected to be covered by other ministers. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionEx-GCHQ boss: UK defence will decline if there is no Brexit plan in placeThe British government, meanwhile, has offered to extend guarantees on EU citizens' rights after Brexit to the 20,000 Norwegian, Icelandic and Liechtensteinian nationals living in the UK. Citizens from the three countries - all members of the European Economic Area - living in the UK for the past five years will be able to apply for settled status on the same basis as nationals from the other 27 EU member states. This would grant them permanent residency and largely the same access as now to healthcare, pensions and other benefits. The UK hopes the offer will be reciprocated and will give similar assurances to the 15,000 British expats in Norway, the 800 in Iceland and 60 in Liechtenstein. On the first day of the Munich security event, the heads of the three largest European intelligence agencies have made an unprecedented joint appearance to emphasise the necessity of international co-operation. After holding talks, the head of Britain's MI6, Alex Younger, and his German and French counterparts issued a statement committing themselves to cross-border information sharing after Brexit to tackle international terrorism, illegal migration, nuclear proliferation and cyber attacks. "Modern threats require a modern response. Any failure to do so would lead to even greater risk," they said. Their move comes amid warnings from the former head of GCHQ that the UK could suffer if it does not take part in the wider European defence plan post-Brexit. Robert Hannigan told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that bilateral and multilateral collaboration was vital, questioning whether it was possible for a "medium-sized country to compete in the modern market and export outside the EU" without sharing research and development costs. View the full article

Oxfam sex scandal: Charity to set up independent commission 16 February 2018 Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionOxfam head: 'I know we have a problem'Oxfam says it will set up a commission to investigate past and present allegations of exploitation by staff. Oxfam International's executive director Winnie Byanyima said it would "do justice" and "atone for the past". The new commission will develop a "global database of accredited referees" to make sure sex offenders cannot "reoffend somewhere else". The British charity has faced criticism over the way it handled claims staff hired prostitutes in Haiti in 2011. Ms Byanyima, the most senior Oxfam executive to speak on the issue, said she first heard of the controversy after news reports last week and added: "I'm really inviting anyone who has been a victim of abuse by anyone in our organisation to come forward. "I'm here for all the women who have been abused, I want them to come forward and for justice to be done for them." In an interview with the BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Landale, she switched to speaking in her native Ugandan to make an apology: "From the bottom of my heart forgive us, forgive Oxfam." Oxfam rehired man fired over sex claims Catholic charity sacks former Oxfam worker How much UK charity money goes to Oxfam? She admitted she could not guarantee there were not sex offenders currently working at the organisation but vowed Oxfam would "build a new culture that doesn't tolerate that behaviour". She explained that the reforms that will take place at Oxfam will include: setting up a high-level independent commission that will look into culture and practices at the organisation, with a mandate to investigate past and current claims of sexual exploitation doubling the budget for the charity's safeguarding team, and tripling the number of staff working in the department setting up a global database of accredited referees to ensure sex offenders cannot falsify references and reoffend at other charities making the organisation's "whistleblowing mechanism" external, safe and confidential Ms Byanyima added one of her priorities was "to make sure that the work we do at Oxfam, of saving lives, of reaching vulnerable people, continues because it's vital, it must continue". Earlier this month news reports said that during a humanitarian mission in Haiti in 2011, the charity's country director Roland van Hauwermeiren hired prostitutes at a villa paid for by Oxfam. Image copyright VRT Image caption Roland Van Hauwermeiren worked in Chad from 2006-09 before going to Haiti in 2010 Mr Van Hauwermeiren, who left Oxfam in 2011 amid a sexual misconduct inquiry, has denied hiring prostitutes but said he had "intimate relations" with a woman who was "not a prostitute". Oxfam had staff working in Haiti following the earthquake in the country killed about 200,000 people in 2010. As a result of the revelation, the charity has faced staunch criticism from the British government and the Haitian president. International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt has threatened to cut the charity's government funding, which was £32m last year. The charity has also lost a number of celebrity ambassadors including Good Will Hunting actress Minnie Driver, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The Charity Commission is to launch a full inquiry into Oxfam as it has concerns the organisation may not have "full and frankly disclosed material details" about the Haiti sex scandal. Image copyright AFP Image caption Archbishop Tutu is "deeply disappointed" over alleged misconduct at Oxfam On Thursday a new allegation came to light that a worker fired by Oxfam over sexual misconduct allegations in Haiti was rehired later the same year by the charity. Oxfam said its decision to rehire the man in Ethiopia was a "serious error". Oxfam has almost 10,000 staff working in more than 90 countries across the globe. View the full article

Top women doctors lose out in NHS pay stakes By Nick Triggle Health correspondent 16 February 2018 Image copyright Getty Images Senior NHS female doctors are earning less than their male counterparts, a BBC investigation shows. Of the top 100 earning consultants in England, just five are women, despite more than a third of the workforce being female. The top-paid man earned nearly £740,000 - two-and-a-half times that of the top woman. Overall, the gap between full-time men and women was 12% (£14,000). But when overtime and bonuses were not included, average pay was £1,500 apart. Some doctors the BBC spoke to said some of the difference was probably down to the fact men were more likely to do overtime. But they said it was clear some of the gap was unfair with the system of bonuses and awards weighted in favour of men. Senior female doctors described the findings as "disappointing" and said it showed more needs to be done to tackle the gender pay gap in medicine. The figures were obtained by the BBC following requests to individual health trusts, the government and NHS Digital. The top earning male consultant in England earned £739,460 in 2016-17 The best paid woman got £281,616 by comparison On average, full-time men in England earned £127,683, nearly £14,000 more than full-time women When you strip out overtime and bonuses and just look at basic pay there was nearly £1,500 difference Six-and-a-half times as many men as women in England and Wales get the top platinum award bonus worth £77,000 a year In Northern Ireland the gap between men and women's gross earnings was over £8,000 'Time to eliminate pay gap' Dr Anthea Mowat, of the British Medical Association, said despite recent progress on gender pay, the figures obtained by the BBC showed there was "clearly still a long way to go". She said women needed more support, including leadership training, mentoring and more flexible working opportunities. "With women making up the majority of medical graduates in recent years, it's vitally important that we address the root causes of the gender pay gap, and develop a wider programme of work to eliminate it across the medical workforce," she added. Dr Jacky Davis, a radiologist and former chair of the NHS Consultants Association, said she was "surprised and disappointed" by the figures. "Some of it we can explain - men are more likely to do overtime for example - but that doesn't account for it all. In my experience men are better at pushing for more money, putting the case for awards and they get them." Dr Sally Davies, of the Medical Woman's Federation, agreed. "We need to do more to support women. They often fall behind when they have children and have to take time off. "By the time they get to the point where overtime is available or the awards are being handed out they find themselves behind men. It's a serious problem." Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, said: "This appears to be a long-term and serious problem within the medical workforce which the government, the profession and employers are committed to resolving." He said one of the causes was the consultants' contract - in the past it has been argued it allows high premiums to be charged for overtime and creates a bonus system that is skewed. The government and BMA are currently in negotiations about the future of the contract. The Department of Health and Social Care said: "We are committed to ensuring that our hardworking doctors are rewarded fairly and equally for their work — regardless of gender — and have commissioned an independent report alongside the medical profession to examine exactly how that can be achieved." Additional reporting by Patrick Cowling and Clara Guibourg Read more from Nick Follow Nick on Twitter View the full article

13 February 2018 Ex-football coach Barry Bennell found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court of multiple sex offences against boys in 1980s. Bennell, 64, had denied 48 offences, including indecent assault and serious sexual assaults. The jury of five men and six women was sent out to deliberate on Thursday morning and is currently delivering verdicts. View the full article

Grand Canyon crash: Parents' tribute to 'wonderful' sons 13 February 2018 Image copyright Family handout/PA Image caption Stuart (left) and Jason Hill were among three Britons killed in the crash The parents of two British tourists who died in the Grand Canyon helicopter crash have paid tribute to their "wonderful sons". Becky Dobson, 27, Stuart Hill, 30, and his brother Jason Hill, 32, were on the "holiday of a lifetime" when they were killed. Three other Britons and the pilot were injured, but were not rescued until eight hours later on Sunday morning. Safety officials have said the crash investigation will take 18 months. In a statement released via the Foreign Office, Rev David and Sandra Hill said their sons, from West Sussex, were "inseparable brothers" and "remarkable people" who will be "deeply missed by so many people". Britons killed in Grand Canyon crash named Friends pay tribute to victims The pair were on holiday with friends celebrating Stuart's 30th birthday. "We always said they were so close they were like twins and we will find some support in knowing they were with each other to the last," the statement added. "We will thank God every day for having them in our lives." Image copyright Caters News Agency Image caption Becky Dobson and her boyfriend Stuart Hill died in the crash They said they were praying for those injured and that their "hearts go out to Becky's family". Ms Dobson's father, Peter Dobson, told the Press Association his daughter was "full of life" and "always happy". Britons Ellie Milward, 29, Jonathan Udall, 32, and Jennifer Barham, 39, were injured in the crash, along with pilot Scott Booth, 42, police said. Image copyright Caters News Agency Image caption Jonathan Udall and his wife Ellie Milward, both on left, were injured in the crash and Becky Dobson and Stuart Hill were both killed Crash investigators said they were in contact with the survivors and hoped to secure statements from them during the coming days. It is not clear what caused the crash on Saturday evening. Witnesses say rescue efforts were hampered by high winds. "Once the wreckage has been recovered, we will start to gather archive information relating to the pilot, the aircraft and the environment," national transportation safety board investigator Stephen Stein told a press conference in Nevada on Monday. He said a preliminary report is expected in five to 10 days, but the final report would take 18 months to deliver "because it's a very technical-heavy investigation". Image copyright Teddy Fujimoto Image caption The helicopter came down, during a tour of the canyon, on Saturday evening Investigators have to take helicopters into the valley and then hike down to the base of the canyon to access the crash site, Mr Stein told reporters. The aircraft will soon be moved to a site in Phoenix for further examination. Mr Stein said the "crash-resistant fuel system" is a very important part of this investigation. He said there was "evidence of post-crash fire" and images have shown the aircraft engulfed in flames. A temporary flight restriction in the area remains in place. View the full article

By Kevin Magee BBC News NI investigations correspondent 13 February 2018 Image caption George Keenan, who uses the alias James SJ O'Neill, is one of those who introduced the concept of' 'paedophile hunting' to Northern Ireland Some of the leaders of self-styled paedophile-hunting groups operating in Northern Ireland have been identified for the first time. There are increasing concerns about the methods many of the groups use, and their lack of accountability. The so-called paedophile-hunting groups target people online who they believe are sexual predators. They confront them and broadcast the encounter live on the internet, then call the police. 'On whose authority?' There have been more than 100 incidents of this nature reported to police in Northern Ireland, but no one has been charged as a result and there have been no convictions. Former senior police officer and child protection expert, Jim Gamble, warned some of the tactics used by the groups are criminal. "Anyone live streaming these incidents is not about the justice of catching someone who represents a threat to children, they are about the self-publicity and the self-centred approach about themselves, much more than about making children safer," he said. Image caption Sharon Shanks, who is behind the group 'Justice Reborn Northern Ireland', covered her face with a pink scarf All the groups keep their identities hidden. BBC News NI approached two of the people involved in setting up the "hunting groups" in Northern Ireland to ask them for an interview. Sharon Shanks, from south Belfast, is behind the group called Justice Reborn Northern Ireland and she uses the alias Chelsea Lewis. Refused to answer questions Ms Shanks declined to do an interview saying in an online message that she was unhappy "journalists and news stations have so far called the hunting groups vigilantes". "Our identity we keep to ourselves so meeting isn't an option," she said. During one confrontation that she posted live online, Ms Shanks is overheard using explicit offensive language and threats of violence against a man who came across the scene. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionBBC News NI's Kevin Magee tries to speak to Sharon ShanksWhen approached by the BBC just after she had broadcast other live footage on Facebook of herself interrogating a man she had alleged was a paedophile, Ms Shanks refused to answer our questions. We wanted to ask about the methods her secret group used, and on whose authority she had been detaining people who she believed to be paedophiles. She declined to answer any questions. Instead, Ms Shanks pulled on a scarf and was driven way at speed. There are up to 10 different, self-appointed paedophile hunting groups currently operating in Northern Ireland. Often they are in competition with one another, but sometimes they can join forces. One of those who introduced the concept of "paedophile hunting" to Northern Ireland is 34 year-old Belfast man, George Keenan. He uses the alias, James SJ O'Neill. He was linked to a group calling itself Silent Justice. Image caption George Keenan was approached for an interview by Kevin Magee in west Belfast One of his targets last August was a man in County Antrim. Two days after he was confronted, the man took his own life. His family said they wanted to maintain a dignified silence. Mr Keenan recently had a public falling out with other paedophile hunting groups in England and, in an expletive filled video, issued various threats of physical violence against them on Facebook. Mr Keenan declined a request for an interview using his own name and identity. 'Absolutely disgusting' BBC News NI approached him in west Belfast to ask him on whose authority he was confronting people he thought were paedophiles. When asked if any of his actions resembled those of a vigilante, he replied: "Are you serious? Get out of my sight, leave me alone. Stay away from anybody that I have previously worked with. "You are harassing people, I am not here to answer your questions. You are absolutely disgusting. Get out of my space right now." Later the same day Mr Keenan led a group of people to confront BBC investigations reporter, Kevin Magee, in a coffee shop in South Belfast. Image caption BBC reporter Kevin Magee was filmed by George Keenan, who posted video of the confrontation online Mr Keenan claimed he had been able to mobilise more than a dozen people from various paedophile hunting groups. For a short time they blocked off Botanic Avenue and published the episode online. You can hear more from Kevin Magee's investigation on Good Morning Ulster on BBC Radio Ulster On Tuesday and see his report on BBC Newsline at 18:30 GMT. Eyewitness account: A mother-of-two has told of her terror when her home was mistakenly surrounded by a group of masked paedophile hunters. The self-appointed gang surrounded the house in the Springfarm estate in Antrim in January, claiming a paedophile was living there. But the group had made a mistake - they had picked the wrong house. The 34-year-old woman, who asked not to be named, said she was "absolutely terrified" when members of the gang approached her home. Her 66-year-old mother and two young children, aged seven and three, were in the house with her. 'Totally wrong' "A crowd of people got out of cars and they started banging and kicking at my front door, one of the women was screaming," she said. "They were all saying there was a paedophile in the house, but there was no man in the house, just me, my kids and my mother. "It was terrible, it really was outrageous behaviour, we felt really intimidated. "One of the children was hiding under the bed and my mother was petrified and shaken afterwards. Now she doesn't want to leave the house." The woman had only recently moved into the house. Local neighbourhood watch co-ordinator Seamus Davis went to the house when he heard the commotion. He said: "There were three or four cars full of people. I said: 'look you're in the wrong place' - and they called me a paedophile lover. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionSeamus Davis: "They called me a paedophile lover""I told them I hate paedophiles as much as anybody else, but this way you are doing is totally wrong - this is a job for the police. "You are behaving like a bunch of vigilantes." View the full article

By James Landale Diplomatic correspondent 13 February 2018 Image copyright PA The Commonwealth has secretly begun considering who might succeed the Queen as its head, the BBC has learned. The issue is hugely sensitive because the role is not hereditary and will not pass automatically to the Prince of Wales on the Queen's death. The Commonwealth has set up a "high level group" to look at the way the international organisation is governed. This group is meeting later, officially to review how the Commonwealth is run by its secretariat and governors. However, senior sources added that the gathering in London would also consider what happens when the Queen, who turns 92 in April, dies. One said: "I imagine the question of the succession, however distasteful it may naturally be, will come up." The agenda for the all-day summit, seen by the BBC, says there will be a discussion of "wider governance considerations" which insiders say is code for the succession. The group is expected to report to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London in April, which is likely to be the last that the 91-year-old monarch will attend. Image copyright Reuters Image caption The Queen congratulating winners of the Commonwealth Youth Awards in 2016 A second source said the issue of the succession is expected to be discussed by Commonwealth leaders on the margins of the summit, particularly when they meet without officials "on retreat" at Windsor Castle. The Queen was proclaimed Head of the Commonwealth at her coronation when she was head of state in seven of its eight members. It is not an hereditary position that will pass automatically to her son, who will be head of state in only 15 of the 53 member nations that now make up the Commonwealth. Any decision about the future would have to be made by the Commonwealth heads of government at the time of the Queen's death. But there is no formal process for choosing her successor. While many Commonwealth figures presume there will be no realistic alternative to Prince Charles, there has in the past been talk of electing a ceremonial leader to improve the organisation's democratic credentials. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Prince Charles is considered the obvious successor to the Queen as head of the Commonwealth One source said the issue to be decided was whether a one-off decision should be taken to appoint Prince Charles to the position, or whether a new process should be agreed to ensure that it is always the British monarch who automatically becomes head of the Commonwealth. "There are various formulas being played with," the source said. "Should it always be the heir to the throne or Prince Charles himself? Is it the person or the position?" The high level group, which is made up of seven senior former ministers from the Commonwealth, will meet at the body's London headquarters at Marlborough House. The group, which has its own staff and budget, is independent of the Commonwealth Secretariat. It will look at how the secretariat is run and funded, how a new secretary general is chosen and the balance of power between the Commonwealth's governors and executive committee. According to documents seen by the BBC, the high level group will not just confine itself to bureaucratic changes. The agenda for the meeting says: "Discussions will take into consideration the issues raised in the first session and also the wider governance considerations of the Commonwealth." Image copyright PA Image caption The Queen has been the head of the Commonwealth since her coronation in 1953. In that time she has travelled across the constituent countries, including Australia in 1977, above The Queen has been working in private to try to ensure that Prince Charles does succeed her, sending senior officials around the world to lobby Commonwealth leaders. At the last CHOGM in Malta in 2015, the Queen told them that she could not "wish to have been better supported and represented in the Commonwealth than by the Prince of Wales who continues to give so much to it with great distinction". The Prince of Wales represented the Queen at the CHOGM in Sri Lanka in 2013. A whole section of his website is devoted to the Commonwealth, noting that he has visited 41 out of 53 countries and has been a "proud supporter" for more than four decades. The high level group consists of: Chairman Anote Tong: Former president of Kiribati Lord Howell: Former British energy secretary Louise Frechette: Former United Nations deputy secretary general Robert Hill: Former Australian defence minister Dame Billie Miller: Former deputy prime minister of Barbados Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: Former Nigerian minister of finance George Vella: Former deputy prime minister of Malta View the full article

Oxfam: Deputy resigns over how sex claims were handled 12 February 2018 Related Topics2010 Haiti earthquake Image copyright PA Image caption Penny Lawrence says she took "full responsibility" for the behaviour of staff in Chad and Haiti Oxfam's deputy chief executive has resigned over the handling of a sex scandal involving aid workers. The British charity is accused of concealing the findings of an inquiry into claims staff used prostitutes while delivering aid in Haiti in 2011. Penny Lawrence said she was "ashamed" and takes full responsibility. The Charity Commission has launched a statutory inquiry into Oxfam - which denies a cover-up - but details of its scope have not yet been released. The watchdog says it has concerns the charity may not have "fully and frankly" disclosed everything it knew about the claims despite previous assurances from Oxfam. Michelle Russell, director of investigations at the commission, said if details had been known it would have dealt with the situation "very differently". Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionFormer Oxfam employee Widza Bryant: "I was told my many locals there were... sexual relations"It comes after an earlier meeting with the International Development Secretary in an effort to protect Oxfam's funding from being cut. Ms Lawrence joined Oxfam GB in 2006 as international programmes director, leading teams across 60 countries, according to the charity's website. Reality check: How much money goes to Oxfam? How will the Haiti scandal affect Oxfam? Oxfam boss says charity is ashamed Oxfam did not disclose 'full Haiti details' "Concerns were raised about the behaviour of staff in Chad as well as Haiti that we failed to adequately act upon," she said in a statement. "It is now clear that these allegations - involving the use of prostitutes and which related to the behaviour of both the country director and members of his team in Chad - were raised before he moved to Haiti." Analysis: Reputations are on the line By BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale A statutory inquiry is the most serious action the Charity Commission can take. It gives the regulator new powers to investigate, demand information, suspend trustees and even freeze bank accounts. So this shows how seriously the Commission is taking the sexual misconduct claims about Oxfam staff in Haiti. It also shows how unhappy the Commission is at not being given the full facts about what went on. International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt is being equally tough on Oxfam, threatening to withdraw funding unless it gets its house in order and shows some moral leadership. But like the Charity Commission, Ms Mordaunt is also keen to show that she is acting, by promising a new unit in her department to establish a global register of aid workers that might be able to stop predatory individuals being re-employed by charities. She knows she will face tough questioning from MPs on the international development committee next week about what her department knew and what she has done since. Reputations are on the line here and no organisation wants to be found wanting. The allegations emerged in The Times on Friday, which said Oxfam's country director for Haiti, Roland van Hauwermeiren, used prostitutes at a villa rented for him by Oxfam in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. According to the paper, Oxfam knew about concerns over the conduct of Mr van Hauwermeiren and another man when they worked in Chad before they were given senior roles in Haiti. Oxfam said allegations that underage girls may have been involved were unproven. BBC world affairs correspondent Will Grant said senior government sources feared the abuse allegations could be "the tip of the iceberg" and that all aid agencies operating in Haiti as well as Oxfam would be investigated. He added locals expressed "real anger" at what they say is impunity by international aid agencies for the way they have behaved. Widza Bryant, who worked in HR for Oxfam in Haiti from 2009 for three years, said she shared "ongoing rumours" about locals being exploited with management "on many occasions". She told BBC News: "There were a lot of rumours on the ground about management and leaders exploiting the locals sexually and in other ways to get jobs and to have good standing." Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionOxfam Chief Executive: "We apologise to the British public and the Haitian public"Mark Goldring, chief executive of Oxfam GB, admitted the charity had failed to act on complaints highlighting the failure to allow Mr van Hauwermeiren to move onto another post after allegations were revealed. He said the use of prostitutes was "not explicitly contrary" to Oxfam's code of conduct at the time, but bringing Oxfam into disrepute in any way and abusing people who may have been beneficiaries was. Mr Goldring added: "There was an exploration of how should the organisation respond but we didn't act on it." Funding risk The European Commission has said it expects full clarity and maximum transparency from Oxfam, adding that it is ready to "cease funding any partner not living up to high ethical standards". The charity's programme in Haiti received €1.7m in EU funds in 2011. International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said Oxfam had apologised for its "appalling" behaviour and that the government had not been told at the time the allegations involved sexual misconduct or beneficiaries. Oxfam has been told to tell the Department for International Development by the end of the week how it will handle any future allegations around safeguarding or it faces losing government funding. Ms Mordaunt also called for clearer whistle-blowing policies across the charitable sector and launched an urgent review into safeguarding and aid providers. The Innocent drinks company - one of Oxfam's corporate sponsors which donates around £100,000 per year- said it wants to see a clear plan "for how this could not ever happen again". The charity has since postponed a "Fashion Fighting Poverty" event, which had been due to take place as part of London Fashion Week on Thursday, saying it was not the "right time" at present. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionBBC world affairs correspondent Will Grant says locals believe aid agencies have enjoyed "impunity"Oxfam's own investigation in 2011 led to four people being sacked and three others resigning, including Mr van Hauwermeiren. It produced a public report, which said "serious misconduct" had taken place in Haiti - but did not give details of the allegations. Oxfam has faced growing criticism of the way it handled the allegations of misconduct by its staff in Haiti, where they were working in the aftermath of the huge earthquake that devastated the country in 2010. Haiti's ambassador in London Bocchit Edmond called the revelations "shocking", "shameful", and "unacceptable". On Sunday, Ms Mordaunt told the BBC's Andrew Marr the charity did "absolutely the wrong thing" by not reporting details of the allegations and that no organisation could be a government partner if it did not "have the moral leadership to do the right thing". Ahead of the government meeting, Oxfam announced new measures for handling of sexual abuse cases, saying it would introduce tougher vetting of staff and mandatory safeguarding training for new recruits. Oxfam's chairman of trustees, Caroline Thomson, said the charity's board had appointed a consultant earlier this year to review its culture and working practices, which would now be extended. Are you an aid worker? Share your views and experiences by emailing [email protected]. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: WhatsApp: +447555 173285 Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay Send pictures/video to [email protected] Upload your pictures/video here Send an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 Or use the form below Your contact details Name (optional) Your E-mail address (required) Town & Country (optional) Your telephone number (optional) Comments (required) If you are happy to be contacted by a BBC journalist please leave a telephone number that we can contact you on. In some cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name as you provide it and location, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. When sending us pictures, video or eyewitness accounts at no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. Please ensure you have read the terms and conditions. Terms and conditions View the full article

Britons killed in Grand Canyon helicopter crash named 12 February 2018 Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The helicopter crashed at the West Rim of the Grand Canyon Three British tourists killed in a helicopter crash in the Grand Canyon have been named by US police. Becky Dobson, 27, Jason Hill, 32, and Stuart Hill, 30, died in Saturday's crash, the Hualapai Police said. Three other Britons and the pilot were injured when the helicopter, on a tour of the canyon, came down at about 17:20 local time (00:20 GMT) in Arizona. It is not clear what caused the crash and eyewitnesses say rescue efforts have been hampered by high winds. Images have emerged showing flames and thick smoke rising from the boulder-strewn crash site. Police said Britons Ellie Milward, 29, Jonathan Udall, 32, and Jennifer Barham, 39, were injured in the crash, along with pilot Scott Booth, 42. 'Extremely rugged' They were rescued at 02:00 local time on Sunday and flown to University Medical Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, a statement said. Gabby Hart, a local news reporter for the station KSNV, said it took nine hours for the survivors to be removed from the site because of the terrain and high winds. She told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We are told by witnesses and also by rescuers that people trying to help once they saw this accident happen, they couldn't get down to the helicopter quick enough. "They [the survivors] had to receive care there on site until emergency crews were able to remove them from the scene." The chief of the local Hualapai Police, Francis Bradley, called the incident "very tragic". He added: "Yesterday, we were hampered by severe weather conditions [and] we had gusts up to 50mph [80kmph]." He said the terrain around the crash site was also "extremely rugged". Support and sympathy In a statement, Brenda Halvorson, the chief executive of the helicopter company involved - Papillon Airways - said the company extended its heartfelt sympathy to the families of the dead and injured. On its website, Papillon calls itself "the world's largest aerial sightseeing company" and says it flies more than 600,000 people a year. The Grand Canyon, which is more than 1.6km (one mile) deep, is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the US. A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We are providing support to the families of six British visitors involved in a helicopter accident at the Grand Canyon on 10 February, and we are in close contact with the US emergency services." View the full article

May and Varadkar head to Belfast amid Stormont deal speculation 12 February 2018 Image copyright Getty Images Theresa May and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar are to visit Belfast later for talks with the Stormont parties. It comes amid speculation the DUP and Sinn Féin are close to agreeing a deal to restore devolved government. Several previous rounds of talks between the two parties have failed to break the deadlock. Northern Ireland has been run by civil servants since the power-sharing executive made up of the DUP and Sinn Féin collapsed in January last year. The late Martin McGuinness pulled Sinn Féin out of the coalition, objecting to the DUP's handling of a scandal over green energy scheme. Stormont deadlock: Need-to-know guide Mrs May last visited Northern Ireland in May when she toured the Balmoral Show ahead of a snap general election. Since then she has struck a parliamentary deal with the DUP and has faced criticism for adopting a hands-off approach to the deadlock at Stormont. Tory-DUP deal: What you need to know A Downing Street spokesman said the prime minister would remind the parties of the many pressing issues facing Northern Ireland and make clear her belief that a fully functioning executive is the best way to serve the interests of the whole community. Mrs May is also expected to visit a major employer to underline the government's commitment to the local economy. A spokesman for Leo Varadkar said the taoiseach would use his visit to "assess the state of play" and "encourage the parties to reach an agreement". "The (Irish) government has consistently said that the restoration of the institutions is essential in the context of full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, and that it will continue to work very closely with the British government to support the northern parties to achieve this outcome," he said. Profile: Sinn Féin's new leader Mary Lou McDonald At the weekend, Sinn Féin's vice president Michelle O'Neill predicted that the Stormont talks would conclude this week. Her comment strengthened speculation that a compromise between her party and the DUP could soon be unveiled. View the full article