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Downing Street has clarified its position on the possibility of strikes in Syria, saying it has not yet abandoned the idea of airborne attacks. The Foreign Secretary earlier appeared to strike a different note when he said the UK would not be taking part in airstrikes in Syria. Philip Hammond was speaking after Barack Obama authorised attacks on IS fighters in Syria, as well as Iraq, for the first time, saying the terrorists had a free passage across the countries' borders. Mr Obama said the move did not amount to support for the Assad regime in Syria, which has always...

Last night, Barack Obama promised America that he would take the fight to ISIS/ISIL, using a four-pronged strategy that he laid out in his much-anticipated war speech. In each phase of this strategy, Obama insisted, we would be “joined by a broad coalition of partners,” emphases mine: Obama ISIS Speech [FULL] 9/10/14: Outlining a Battle Plan | The New York Times First, we will conduct a systematic campaign of airstrikes against these terrorists. Working with the Iraqi government, we will expand our efforts beyond protecting our own people and humanitarian missions, so that we’re hitting ISIL targets as Iraqi forces...

Key reports detailing child sexual exploitation have disappeared from the archives, the outgoing chief executive of Rotherham Council has told MPs. Martin Kimber said he had not seen a full copy of a 2002 report, had never seen a 2003 report and only saw a 2006 report on Sunday. A report published earlier this month found at least 1,400 children were abused in the town from 1997 to 2013. The council was heavily criticised by Professor Alexis Jay. In her report, Professor Jay said: "Further stark evidence came in 2002, 2003 and 2006 with three reports known to the police...

More women will recognise the situation than will want to admit it. You're young and a little tipsy, a delightful guy chats you up, you drink some more and end up at one or other's flat. Then you dance and laugh and drink some more... ending up in bed together. In the morning, you can hardly remember what happened, let alone whether you used contraception. Have you been there? I have, all of 47 years ago, in my first year of university. Some things don't change, do they? Of course, we all know such behaviour is not to be encouraged...

As the referendum on Scottish independence approaches, the “Yes” campaign is receiving an unexpected boost – from Russian nationalists. Supporters of the Kremlin’s annexation of Crimea have latched on to Alex Salmond’s bid to leave Britain as a parallel to the struggle of ethnic Russians in Ukraine to break with a supposedly bullying overlord in Kiev. With resentment running high against Britain as a crusader for tough sanctions against Moscow over its patronage of the separatist rebels in Ukraine, blogs in Russia have become flooded with calls for Scottish “freedom”. The campaign – often tongue-in-cheek but chiming with official rhetoric...

A new opinion poll on Scottish independence has found the no vote back in the lead at 53% of voters, suggesting the sudden surge in backing for independence has subsided. Only days after a spate of polls suggested the referendum race was neck and neck, the Survation poll for the Daily Record has found that the no vote is now at 53%, giving the pro-UK campaign a six point gap over yes.

Carrot-topped children are aiming to reclaim the term “ginger” as part of a confidence-building course designed to help them beat the bullies. Run by Donna Strachan – a social worker who was teased mercilessly at school for her red hair and freckles – the workshop sees a string of flame-haired fictional characters talk about their experiences. The primary school children, aged between five and 12, then create their own red-headed personalities on mugs, T-shirts, gym bags and puzzles. Ginger activists have hailed the move, claiming the “light-hearted” approach might help redheads cope with any taunts they may receive later. Workshop...

British combat air post-2020 will depend on the RAF’s Typhoon fast jet fleet – currently planned to total 107 aircraft at the end of this decade – and the F-35 Lightning II strike fighter, operated jointly by the RAF and the Royal Navy. Then-Secretary of State for Defence Phillip Hammond said in July 2012 that the UK would buy up to forty-eight F-35B short take-off, vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft in the next ten years of the newly agreed equipment plan. These will not only form the fixed-wing complement of the new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, but will also deploy with...

(VIDEO-AT-LINK)Next week’s referendum on Scottish independence has largely flown under the radar screen here in the United States. The cable news networks have devoted little attention so far to the issue, as the Isil threat in the Middle East continues to dominate international coverage. There has been no polling conducted on the Scottish question in the US, and it is doubtful that many Americans outside of the Washington policy bubble or the financial milieu of New York are particularly exercised by the outcome of a vote taking place over 3,000 miles away. They should be concerned, however. What happens in...

'One of two British explorer ships that vanished in the Arctic more than 160 years ago has been found, Canada's prime minister says. Stephen Harper said it was unclear which ship had been found, but photo evidence confirmed it was one of them. Sir John Franklin led the two ships and 129 men in 1845 to chart the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic. The expedition's disappearance shortly after became one of the great mysteries of the age of Victorian exploration. The Canadian government began searching for Franklin's ships in 2008 as part of a strategy to assert Canada's sovereignty...

The ingratitude. After all he has done for the Islamic supremacists in Britain, they still hate him.

Former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said on Monday that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant was on the “radar screen” when she served in the Obama administration ... in September 2013. “Yes, they were on everybody’s radar screen.” ... the biggest concern ISIL presents for national security is the so-called foreign fighter problem, in which citizens of the United States and United Kingdom have traveled to the Middle East to join the militants. “The No. 1 threat to the homeland,” Napolitano said, “are Americans or Europeans who have passports who have been over there and who are...

Flag bearing IS symbol auctioned at Sydney mosque •Boy, 15, posts pictures online and says he’ll fight Assad •Fred Nile calls for ban on flag throughout Australia ... PREMIER Mike Baird said the Islamic State flag could be banned across NSW. His stance follows footage of one of the flags, which is linked to the barbaric terrorist organisation, being auctioned in front of families and young children in Sydney. “That is something we will consider and work with community groups about but we can’t have the position where you are seeing any activity that is promoting terrorism, supporting terrorism,” Mr...

SNIP A spokeswoman for the airport said: "London Luton airport has evacuated the terminal building after a suspicious item was found in the security search area. "The decision has been taken with the police to ensure the safety and security of passengers and staff. Further updates regarding the security and operations at the airport will be provided as soon as possible." Luton said later that all incoming flights had been suspended and the approach road to the airport had been closed.

The Queen is said to be privately horrified at the prospect of Scotland voting for independence from the UK. It is believed the referendum – which could make the monarch the last Queen of Scotland – dominated her discussions with Prime Minister David Cameron on his annual visit to Balmoral at the weekend. The growing panic over the break-up of the UK was fuelled by a YouGov poll which put the nationalist Yes campaign ahead by 51% to 49%. Buckingham Palace aides said the Queen had asked for daily updates on the state of the campaigns.

'World's smallest house' comes with much larger price tag September 8, 2014, 12:00 pm Yahoo7 Finance What could well be the world's smallest house is for sale - but the price they want for just 188 square feet is gobsmacking. If you thought Sydney house prices were spiralling out of control, spare a thought for those poor souls across the seas in London. What could well be the ‘world’s smallest house’ has hit the market, but don’t expect a small price tag to go with it. The term ‘house’ in this case is a bit of a stretch of the...

THE search to uncover the identity of Jack the Ripper appears to be over. DNA on a shawl found near one of the victims, Catherine Eddowes, reportedly contains a match to both her and one of the chief suspects, Aaron Kosminsky. The Polish hairdresser, who moved to England with his family in 1881, was committed to a mental asylum at the peak of Ripper hysteria. Is this Jack the Ripper? Revealed? ... DNA evidence reportedly confirms that Aaron Kosminski is Jack the Ripper. Picture: Supplied The breakthrough came when Dr Jari Louhelainen, an expert in historic DNA, was commissioned to...

George Igler was in the news this week regarding the Rotherhham gang rapes. He made the estimate of the economic worth of the child sex slaves.Very interesting video. Video at source.

George Osborne was on Sunday scrambling to head off a surge in support for Scottish independence with a promise of more powers for Holyrood, but behind the scenes some senior Tories were preparing for possible defeat. ... Rupert Murdoch, the media tycoon, claimed in a tweet that Mr Salmond’s private polls gave the Yes vote an advantage of 54-46

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States – UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage was in studio with radio show host Laura Ingraham this week to discuss the rise of UKIP, America's political establishment, Vladimir Putin, and even Piers Morgan. On the possibility of Jeb Bush running in the 2016 presidential election race, Mr Farage said: "He represents the Establishment. He represents more of the same. He represents the kind of Republican following of Romney... Democrats have an advantage here with the changing population, so for the Republicans to win they need someone who is actually going to inspire people, and I’m not...