BID TO HALT SYRIA TERRORISTS RISE
A national campaign to stop would-be terrorists travelling to Syria will be launched today, following a dramatic rise in the number of people being arrested after going to the war-torn state.
UK authorities have long expressed fears about aspiring jihadis travelling to Syria for terrorist training, and it is thought that hundreds of Britons have already been there.
Today, Scotland Yard said that 40 Syria-related arrests were made in the first three months of this year, up from 25 in the whole of last year.
CLEGG LAUNCHES LIB DEMS’ CAMPAIGN
David Cameron and Ed Miliband are “missing in action” in the fight against “populists and xenophobes”, Nick Clegg will claim today as he launches the Liberal Democrats’ European election campaign.
The Deputy Prime Minister will return to his claim the Liberal Democrats are the “party of in” during European debates, warning that the “fight is on”.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Colchester, Mr Clegg is expected to say: “Ukip and others have been allowed to peddle their myths unchallenged for decades, claiming that all of our problems would magically disappear if the UK just left the EU.”
WILLIAM IN TRIBUTE TO ’MAGNETIC’ OZ
The Duke of Cambridge has paid tribute to Australia, describing the nation as a “magnet” for investors, visitors and those wanting a better quality of life.
As the Cambridges’ tour Down Under draws to a close, William praised his hosts’ legendary sporting prowess, flourishing arts and the important role they played on the world stage.
William and Kate will stand shoulder to shoulder with Australians tomorrow when they join events marking Anzac Day - a national day of remembrance for the nation’s war dead, veterans and those still serving.
CALL TO ADDRESS GAP IN FAMILY CARE
The number of older people needing informal care will outstrip the number of family members able to provide it as early as 2017, a think tank has claimed.
The IPPR said the gap of those without adult children to care for them will rise to more than a million by 2030, in research on the rising costs of care.
The report shows the average annual cost for an older person who pays for a typical package of care has increased to £7,900 a year, an average £25,000 for home care and an average £36,000 for a nursing home.
ROYALS ’SADDENED’ AT SHAND DEATH
William and Kate have sympathised with the Duchess of Cornwall after the sudden death of her brother, following a fall in New York.
The Duke and Duchess, who are coming to the end of their tour of Australia and New Zealand, passed on their sympathies to Camilla who was left “utterly devastated” after Mark Shand died from a serious head injury on Tuesday night.
Kensington Palace said: “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were saddened to learn this morning of the tragic death of Mark Shand.”
CORRIE’S KNOX IN COURT APPEARANCE
Coronation Street actress Barbara Knox will make her first appearance in court today accused of drink-driving.
Knox - who plays the role of Rita Tanner in the ITV soap - was charged following an incident in Knutsford, Cheshire, on March 10.
The 80-year-old was said to have been a passenger in a Jaguar vehicle driven by her daughter, Maxine Ashcroft, 56.
ACCUSED DLT FACING COURT APPEARANCE
Veteran DJ Dave Lee Travis will appear in court today accused of one count of indecent assault.
The 68-year-old former BBC presenter will make an appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in central London accused of indecently assaulting a woman on 17 January 1995, a court spokeswoman said.
Travis, who is nicknamed The Hairy Cornflake, will appear under his real name of David Griffin at 10am.
BOSSES TO FACE SHAREHOLDER ANGER
Barclays bosses will face more shareholder anger over pay during the banking giant’s annual general meeting in London today.
It recently defied calls for restraint by hiking its staff bonus pool by 10% to £2.38 billion despite profits falling by a third and plans to cut thousands of jobs.
The AGM comes in the wake of a letter from Business Secretary Vince Cable to the UK’s top 100 listed businesses warning them that persisting with high levels of executive pay would be a “dereliction of duty” and damage trust.
TORIES TO AXE WIND TURBINE FUNDS
A Conservative government elected in 2015 would axe public subsidies for any newly planned on-shore wind turbines.
Existing wind farms and those already with planning permission would be protected from the change but Energy Minister Michael Fallon said these would be enough to meet 2020 targets set by the EU - meaning any further developments should not be subsidised.
Instead, the money will be used to back other renewable technologies as part of a mix of energy supplies.
ASYLUM SEEKER CONTRACT BUNGLED: MPS
Vulnerable asylum seekers were left in “unacceptably poor” accommodation following a bungled Home Office project, an influential committee of MPs has said.
Three firms were awarded contracts in March 2012 to provide housing for the UK’s 23,000 destitute asylum seekers in an attempt to streamline services and save money.
But a report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) found that two of these, G4S and Serco, had no previous experience of such a role and were not up to the task.
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