Babak Belurs

Kamis, 07 April 2022

Sabina Nessa: Family calls absent-from-court murderer a coward - BBC

The family of murdered primary school teacher Sabina Nessa has branded her killer a "disgusting animal" and a "coward" at his sentencing hearing, which he refused to attend.

Koci Selamaj, 36, beat and strangled the 28-year-old as she walked through Cator Park, south London, in September.

Selamaj, who did not know Ms Nessa, pleaded guilty to murder in February.

Ms Nessa's sister Jabina Islam called Selamaj an "awful human". Sentencing at the Old Bailey was adjourned to Friday.

Speaking in court, Ms Islam labelled Selamaj a "coward" for not facing up to his crime at the hearing.

She said: "You are an awful human being and do not deserve your name to be said. You are a disgusting animal."

'Amazing soul'

She said her sister was an "amazing role model" who was "powerful, fearless, bright and just an amazing soul".

Ms Islam described being haunted by images of what her sister went through in her last moments.

Ms Nessa's parents, Abdur Rouf and Azibun Nessa, said in a statement: "You had no right to take her away from us in such a cruel way.

"The moment the police officer came to our house and told her she was found dead our world shattered into pieces.

"How could you do such a thing to an innocent girl walking by, minding her own business?

"You are not a human being, you are an animal."

The head teacher where their daughter had worked said the school was in "utter shock" and described Ms Nessa as a "happy, hard-working" teacher who had a "fulfilling career ahead of her".

Ms Nessa had left her home on 17 September to meet a friend at a bar when she was targeted by Selamaj, who was said to have driven to London from his home in Eastbourne to carry out "a predatory attack on a stranger".

The court heard the Albanian national carried out the murder with "extreme violence", prosecutor Alison Morgan QC said. The court heard the murder involved a sexual or sadistic element.

CCTV footage played in court showed Selamaj had spotted Ms Nessa and checked to see if there was anyone else around.

He then ran towards his victim and struck her 34 times using a metal traffic triangle.

The defendant then carried her away unconscious before strangling her in the park in Kidbrooke and removing her tights and underwear. He then tried to cover her body in grass, the court heard.

He disposed of the weapon in a river on his way back to Eastbourne.

Well-wishers attend a vigil for 28 year-old teacher Sabina Nessa

Three days before the attack, he booked a room at the five-star Grand Hotel in Eastbourne.

Ms Morgan suggested the booking of a room at the hotel near his home was "indicative of his premeditation to have some kind of sexual encounter that evening".

Met with ex-partner

On the day of the attack, Selamaj met his former partner, who told the court he appeared "very agitated" when they met at his car near the hotel.

She said: "I think that he wanted to have sex in the car. I don't know what was bothering him, but he was very agitated."

She refused to join him on the back seat and left, the court was told.

Supporters from the Sabina Project outside the Old Bailey, central London

Head teacher Lisa Williams also described the "devastating" impact the primary school teacher's murder had had on pupils.

Her class of 30 students "will never be able to comprehend why someone murdered their teacher and the world in which they live is not safe for them to play in a park," she said in a statement.

Refused to talk

Selamaj initially refused to comment in police interviews but when he was charged, he asked: "What will happen if I open up now and say everything?"

In mitigation, Lewis Power QC said Selamaj's family, who had attended court, were in "shock and total disbelief".

He said his client had provided no explanation for why he murdered Ms Nessa, adding: "He simply accepts that he did it."

Mr Justice Sweeney said the "inevitable" sentence would be life in prison, with a starting point for a minimum term of 30 years.

Sentencing is expected to take place on Friday.

Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk

Key points of the new energy strategy

Nuclear - The government plans to reduce the UK's reliance on oil and gas by building as many as eight new nuclear reactors, including two new reactors at Sizewell in Suffolk. A new body will oversee the delivery of the new plants.
Wind - The government aims to reform planning laws to speed up approvals for new offshore wind farms. For onshore wind farms it wants to develop partnerships with "supportive communities" who want to host turbines in exchange for guaranteed cheaper energy bills.
Hydrogen - Targets for hydrogen production are being doubled to help provide cleaner energy for industry as well as for power, transport and potentially heating.
Solar - The government will consider reforming rules for installing solar panels on homes and commercial buildings to help increase the current solar capacity by up to five times by 2035.
Oil and gas - A new licensing round for North Sea projects is being launched in the summer on the basis that producing gas in the UK has a lower carbon footprint than doing so abroad.
Heat pumps - There will be a £30m "heat pump investment accelerator competition" to make British heat pumps which reduce demand for gas.

Analysis box by Roger Harrabin, Environment analyst

Environmentalists and many energy experts have reacted with disbelief and anger at some of the measures in the strategy.

They cannot believe the government has offered no new policies on saving energy by insulating buildings.

They say energy efficiency would immediately lower bills and emissions, and is the cheapest way to improve energy security.

A Downing Street source said the strategy was now being seen as an energy supply strategy.

Campaigners are also furious that ministers have committed to seeking more oil and gas in the North Sea, even though humans have already found enough fossil fuels to wreck the climate.

There is a strong welcome, though, for the promise of more energy from wind offshore with speedier planning consent.

The same boost has not been offered to onshore wind.

The decision to boost nuclear has drawn a mixed reaction. Some environmentalists say it's too dear and too dangerous. They ridicule the idea from some politicians that every city could have its own mini reactor.

But other climate campaigners believe nuclear must be part of the energy mix.

Nuclear plans

The government announced that a new body called Great British Nuclear will be launched to bolster the UK's nuclear capacity, with the hope that by 2050 up to 24 GW of electricity will come from that source - 25% of the projected electricity demand.

The focus on nuclear will deliver up to eight reactors overall, with one being approved each year until 2030.

It also confirmed advanced plans to approve two new reactors at Sizewell in Suffolk during this parliament.

Tom Greatrex, boss of the Nuclear Industry Association, said the plans marked a "vital step forward" for the UK to meet its climate goals, and could create thousands of jobs.

"The ambition and determination to do much more and quicker is very welcome," he said.

The government said it would reform planning rules to cut approval times for new offshore wind farms.

For onshore wind, the strategy commits to consulting on developing partnerships with "a limited number of supportive communities" who want to host wind turbines in exchange for guaranteed lower energy bills.

Although it is one of the cheapest forms of energy, new onshore wind projects have been declining since 2015 when the government ended subsidies and introduced stricter planning rules in response to some complaints that wind turbines were an eyesore and noisy.

There are also plans to accelerate oil and gas production with a new licensing round for North Sea projects to launch in the summer.

The government said it recognised the importance of these fuels to energy security "and that producing gas in the UK has a lower carbon footprint than imported from abroad".

'Opportunity missed'

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said the new strategy "did not serve the needs of people or the climate".

Mr Ramsay suggested that if the government was "concerned about energy bills and taking real climate action, it would be going even further on onshore wind."

Former Ofgem boss Dermot Nolan said: "Most of these decisions will take a long time to have an impact and in the short run we will continue to be dependent on fossil fuels.

He said the lack of focus on energy efficiency, on insulation, on improving the quality of people's homes "is an opportunity missed".

A wind farm on the outskirts of the Lake District with Skiddaw behind, Cumbria

Ed Miliband, Labour's shadow climate change and net-zero secretary, said: "The government's energy relaunch is in disarray. This relaunch will do nothing for the millions of families now facing an energy bills crisis."

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also described the plans as "utterly hopeless", while the SNP's Stephen Flynn called it a "missed opportunity".

Dr Simon Cran-McGreehin, head of analysis at the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit said: "This is an immediate problem that needs solutions now, and this doesn't do anything on prices.

"It tries to do some things on energy supply, but they're all medium to long-term measures. So it does seem to fail the exam question," he said.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement that the strategy would "reduce our dependence on power sources exposed to volatile international prices we cannot control, so we can enjoy greater energy self-sufficiency with cheaper bills".

Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng added: "Scaling up cheap renewables and new nuclear, while maximising North Sea production, is the best and only way to ensure our energy independence over the coming years."

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2022-04-07 07:05:22Z
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Rabu, 06 April 2022

PM says 'biological males' should not compete in female sport and venues should have women only spaces - Sky News

Boris Johnson has said that "biological males should not be competing in female sporting events".

Speaking to broadcasters on a hospital visit on Wednesday, the prime minister said of his view: "It just seems to me to be sensible."

He continued: "I also happen to think that women should have spaces - whether it is in hospitals or prisons or changing rooms or wherever - which are dedicated to women."

The PM added: "That doesn't mean that I am not immensely sympathetic to people that want to change gender, to transition and it is vital that we give people the maximum possible love and support in making those decisions."

Mr Johnson's comments came as it was confirmed that plans for a landmark global LGBT conference in the UK this summer were cancelled after more than 100 groups pulled out following changes to plans to ban conversion therapy.

Transgender cyclist barred from women's event

The prime minister's remarks on sport come after transgender cyclist Emily Bridges was last week barred from competing in a women's event after the sport's governing body ruled she was not eligible.

Bridges, 21, who had been due to compete in a women's event for the first time at the British National Omnium Championships, set a national junior men's record over 25 miles in 2018 and began hormone therapy last year to reduce her testosterone levels.

Also this week, new guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission said that transgender people can be legitimately excluded from single-sex services - but only if the reasons are "justifiable and proportionate".

The government's watchdog said that the justification could be for reasons of privacy, decency, to prevent trauma or to ensure health and safety.

But LGBT+ charity Stonewall warned that the new guidance is likely to cause more confusion and a greater risk of illegal discrimination.

Deputy PM Dominic Raab took to social media to express his agreement with the prime minister, saying "it doesn't strike me as fair for those born male to compete with those born female in sport".

Mr Raab continued: "Above all, we should work through these issues without either side of the debate shouting the other side down."

PM commits to 'ban on gay conversion therapy'

The prime minister made clear that his government "will have a ban on gay conversion therapy", but added that there are "complexities and sensitivities when you move from the area of sexuality to the question of gender".

Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told broadcasters that "conversion therapy in all forms should be banned" and that the government must "stick to its promises".

In 2015, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) changed its rules allowing transgender athletes to compete as a woman if their testosterone levels are below a certain threshold - ten nanomoles per litre for at least 12 months before the competition.

Testosterone is a hormone that increases muscle mass.

In 2019, World Athletics lowered the maximum level to five nanomoles per litre.

New IOC guidance last year said transgender women should not be forced to reduce their testosterone levels to compete in sports.

It replaced the guidelines from 2015 and reversed the IOC's previous stance on transgender athletes.

The new framework also states that no athlete should be excluded from competition on the grounds of a perceived "unfair and disproportionate advantage" due to their gender.

However, the new guidelines are not legally binding.

Former LGBT adviser accuses PM of 'pathetic excuses'

At the time they were issued, the governing body said that it was not in a position to issue regulations that define eligibility criteria for every sport, instead leaving it to individual federations to make the final call.

The IOC said it plans to work with federations on a "case by case basis".

The new guidelines were introduced just a few months after the New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard made history as the first transgender athlete to compete at an Olympics in the games' 125 year history.

At the time, critics argued her participation in the competition to be unfair.

Meanwhile, a former LGBT government adviser has urged leaders to stop making "pathetic excuses" for not banning transgender conversion therapy.

Jayne Ozanne told the PA news agency the LGBT+ community's trust in the government is "completely and utterly broken" by a series of U-turns last week and its backtracking on commitments to include transgender people in upcoming legislation to ban the practice.

Confirming the cancellation of the Safe To Be Me conference due to be held in London this summer, a government spokesperson said it was "disappointing" that organisations had withdrawn from the event.

"We remain committed to strengthening LGBT rights and freedoms and will continue to support human rights defenders globally and to influence and support countries on the path to decriminalisation," the spokesperson said.

Posting on social media on Wednesday, Conservative MP Elliot Colburn said he was "extremely concerned" by the conference being scrapped.

"Fuelling the fire and giving into some kind of culture war will benefit no-one," he warned.

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2022-04-06 16:10:02Z
1340990919

PM says 'biological males' should not compete in female sport and venues should have women only spaces - Sky News

Boris Johnson has said that "biological males should not be competing in female sporting events".

Speaking to broadcasters on a hospital visit on Wednesday, the prime minister said of his view: "It just seems to me to be sensible."

He continued: "I also happen to think that women should have spaces - whether it is in hospitals or prisons or changing rooms or wherever - which are dedicated to women."

Transgender cyclist barred from women's event

It comes after transgender cyclist Emily Bridges was last week barred from competing in a women's event after the sport's governing body ruled she was not eligible.

The government's watchdog said that the justification could be for reasons of privacy, decency, to prevent trauma or to ensure health and safety.

But LGBT+ charity Stonewall warned that the new guidance is likely to cause more confusion and a greater risk of illegal discrimination.

Deputy PM Dominic Raab took to social media to express his agreement with the prime minister, saying "it doesn't strike me as fair for those born male to compete with those born female in sport".

Mr Raab continued: "Above all, we should work through these issues without either side of the debate shouting the other side down."

PM commits to 'ban on gay conversion therapy'

Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told broadcasters that "conversion therapy in all forms should be banned" and that the government must "stick to its promises".

Testosterone is a hormone that increases muscle mass.

In 2019, World Athletics lowered the maximum level to five nanomoles per litre.

New IOC guidance last year said transgender women should not be forced to reduce their testosterone levels to compete in sports.

It replaced the guidelines from 2015 and reversed the IOC's previous stance on transgender athletes.

The new framework also states that no athlete should be excluded from competition on the grounds of a perceived "unfair and disproportionate advantage" due to their gender.

However, the new guidelines are not legally binding.

Former LGBT adviser accuses PM of 'pathetic excuses'

The IOC said it plans to work with federations on a "case by case basis".

At the time, critics argued her participation in the competition to be unfair.

Meanwhile, a former LGBT government adviser has urged leaders to stop making "pathetic excuses" for not banning transgender conversion therapy.

And plans for a landmark global LGBT conference in the UK this summer look set to be cancelled after more than 100 groups pulled out following changes to plans to ban conversion therapy.

Posting on social media on Wednesday, Conservative MP Elliot Colburn said he was "extremely concerned" by the conference being scrapped.

"Fuelling the fire and giving into some kind of culture war will benefit no-one," he warned.

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Selasa, 05 April 2022

Manchester Airport: Police could help tackle 'chaos', mayor says - BBC

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Police and fire and rescue service staff could be drafted in to help tackle the chaos at Manchester Airport, the region's mayor has said.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is meeting airport bosses to discuss the "concerning" current situation.

Travellers have criticised long delays and missed flights over the weekend.

Mr Burnham said he would be seeking reassurance about what is being done to bring the situation under control, but will also offer his support.

Travellers at the airport have faced long queues for check-in and security over the past month, with some missing flights at the start of the Easter school holidays.

Manchester Airport has previously apologised and said the industry was "facing staff shortages and recruitment challenges".

"I have been in touch with colleagues at Greater Manchester Police at the weekend to see what we can do to support the airport," Mr Burnham said.

"It's a difficult moment for airports around the world having laid low for the pandemic, they've had to scale up very quickly.

"But at the same time, we don't want to see the scenes that we saw at the weekend and we obviously need to work with them to work through those issues and make sure we're managing those things and giving the right information to the public and being clear about the plan to get things to an acceptable level."

Manchester Airports Group is partly owned by the 10 local authorities of Greater Manchester, with the biggest stake held by Manchester Council, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Mr Burnham said although the airport was run independently of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, it matters "hugely" to the city-region.

"To some degree, airports all over the world are going through this because gearing up an airport after they're almost ground to a halt over the last couple of years is a really hard thing to do," he added.

"Airports need staff across security, check-in, retail - there's a huge number of people who work at an airport and it's not easy to go back."

Airport management are meeting political leaders and unions later on Tuesday and a statement on the talks is expected from Mr Burnham on Wednesday.

Andy Prendergast, the national secretary for the GMB union which represents aviation staff, told BBC Radio 5 Live the aviation industry was "one that's had a torrid couple of years".

"Over that period they've lost huge numbers of staff via redundancy and people getting other jobs," he said.

"Quite simply there isn't the capacity to look after all the travellers."

John O'Neill, North West Regional Industrial Officer for Unite, said after mass redundancies due to Covid, some workers have found alternative jobs with similar wages and may not be willing to return to work at the airport doing unsocial hours for similar rates of pay.

"Summer is going to be far worse than this. It is the time to get everything in place otherwise summer is going to very difficult," he said.

Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry said: "As a member of the local resilience forum, Greater Manchester Police supports partner agencies in producing plans to prevent and mitigate the impact of incidents on our local communities."

One airport worker also said he had quit his job over the "dangerous" situation at the airport.

Ray Ellis said: "It just felt so dangerous and so wrong in my soul.

"I couldn't do it any longer so I put my notice in.

"On the final day I didn't know if I was working a full shift or a half shift, I got no feedback, so I just walked off the job."

There were still problems on Tuesday morning, with one Twitter user describing only two security scanners in operation and "many panicking passengers" and another saying they could not get into the airport.

Can’t even get into Manchester Airport never mind through security or passport control! @manairport pic.twitter.com/q2OPN3e5Ks
— The Secret Accountant 🇺🇦 (@TheSecretAcct) April 5, 2022

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

However, another passenger said they got through security quickly and said departures staff "were great too".

Through @manairport t2 security in fifteen mins, now having a longgg breakfast. @jet2tweets bunch at departures were great too
— Hannah G-A (@HannahG64669458) April 5, 2022

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

Manchester Airport has previously admitted passengers' experiences have fallen "below the standard we aim to provide".

A spokesperson said: "We are doing all we can to recruit the staff we need to meet this demand, but this is taking time due to the lengthy vetting and training processes involved.

"Our whole industry is facing staff shortages and recruitment challenges at present, after the most damaging two years in its history."

Have your travel plans been affected by disruption at UK airports? Tell us about it by emailing: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

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Senin, 04 April 2022

Partygate: Fines issued by Metropolitan Police for events on eve of Prince Philip's funeral - Sky News

The Metropolitan Police have issued fines relating to Downing Street events that took place on the night before the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral last year, it has emerged.

Last week the force issued 20 fixed penalty notices to people who attended lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street and Whitehall.

Some of these were for two separate events on 16 April 2021, when advisers and civil servants are said to have gathered after work.

Prince Philip died on 9 April 2021 and his funeral was on 17 April in Windsor.

One of the events was for James Slack, the former Downing Street director of communications, and the other was for a photographer.

Number 10 staff were said to have partied until the early hours of the morning in a seven-hour drinking session with takeaway pizzas.

Some attendees are said to have used a slide belonging to Wilfred, the one-year-old son of Boris and Carrie Johnson.

The Queen was pictured alone at St George's Chapel the next day, sitting socially distanced from her family as she said goodbye to her husband.

Number 10 previously said an apology had been extended to Buckingham Palace.

The Met Police are investigating 12 events that allegedly broke lockdown rules in Westminster, including as many as six that Mr Johnson is said to have attended, and has sent out more than 100 questionnaires and so far issued 20 fines.

The prime minister has not been fined in the first tranche of fixed penalty notices, which are worth £50.

The prime minister received his questionnaire in February but he will not be interviewed by the force, according to ITV News.

The force is not interviewing those who have been sent questionnaires and could potentially be fined, it said.

Only "witnesses", whose role is to help officers interpret questionnaires will be questioned.

Number 10 has said it will confirm if Mr Johnson or Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, are given a fixed penalty notice.

Mr Johnson is not said to have attended the events on 16 April.

The Met Police declined to comment. The Cabinet Office also said it had nothing to add.

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2022-04-04 05:53:42Z
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Babak Belurs

Kamis, 07 April 2022

Sabina Nessa: Family calls absent-from-court murderer a coward - BBC

'Amazing soul'

Met with ex-partner

Refused to talk

Related Internet Links

Two British divers disappear while diving off Malaysian island - Sky News

Energy strategy: UK plans eight new nuclear reactors to boost production - BBC

Key points of the new energy strategy

Nuclear plans

'Opportunity missed'

Rabu, 06 April 2022

PM says 'biological males' should not compete in female sport and venues should have women only spaces - Sky News

PM says 'biological males' should not compete in female sport and venues should have women only spaces - Sky News

Selasa, 05 April 2022

Manchester Airport: Police could help tackle 'chaos', mayor says - BBC

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Senin, 04 April 2022

Partygate: Fines issued by Metropolitan Police for events on eve of Prince Philip's funeral - Sky News

Kamis, 07 April 2022

'Amazing soul'

Met with ex-partner

Refused to talk

Related Internet Links

More from World

Key points of the new energy strategy

Nuclear plans

'Opportunity missed'

Rabu, 06 April 2022

More on Boris Johnson

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More on Boris Johnson

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Selasa, 05 April 2022

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Senin, 04 April 2022

More on Downing Street Parties

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