25-year-old British tourist has drowned after falling into an Indian river, despite the desperate efforts of her lifeguard boyfriend to save her.

Christina Reed, from Torquay in Devon, was travelling with 28-year-old Anthony Biddlecombe when she went slipped and fell into the remote, monsoon-swollen Umkynsan river on Saturday.
Mr Biddlecombe, a qualified lifeguard, dived into the river to try to save her but found her trapped by a boulder under the water.
He repeatedly went under the waves with mouthfuls of air to try to save her but by the fifth attempt found that she had become limp.
Mr Biddlecombe returned to the surface to try to find help but was unable to and when he dived under again he found Miss Reed had been swept away.
Her body was reportedly recovered from the river yesterday afternoon by police divers and identified by her boyfriend.

Miss Reed and Mr Biddlecombe met while at the University of Sussex, where Miss Reed gained her degree in business studies and Mr Biddlecombe in psychology.
The pair had flown to Asia 20 months ago as friends and their relationship had blossomed while they were away together.
They had been teaching English in Chaing Mai, Thailand before travelling to India earlier this month where they went trekking in the village of Sohra.
Ms Reed had a profile page on the website Couchsurfing, an online community used by backpackers to offer spare sofas or sleeping space to each other.
On it she wrote: "I love life. I love dancing, chatting, laughing and cheeky banter."
She wrote: "I am a teacher in Chiang Mai. I teach conversation and corporate English to local people and businesses. I love it!"
Mr Biddlecombe's father, Graham, 56, said that had been hoping that "by some miracle, she would be alive".
He said: “A miracle did not happen and now it’s just awful, a complete mess, like the stuff you see on films.
“Anthony wondered whether they would find Chrissie wandering around in a daze, having forgotten where she was. But it wasn’t to be."
The Foreign Office said that a British person was missing and it was investigating the latest reports.

 

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Travellers have been warned to expect delays on arrival at UK ports and airports on Thursday as hundreds of immigration and customs officers are due to join the public sector strike.

People are being advised to think about travelling on alternative dates.

Up to 750,000 teachers and civil servants are due to strike over planned pension changes they say will mean them working longer and paying more.

Business leaders have warned of the impact of the walkout on the economy.

Airport operator BAA, which runs Heathrow, Stansted, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports, said in a statement: "We have been informed by UK Border Agency that arriving passengers should expect delays at the UK border on Thursday as a result of industrial action by immigration officers.

"UK Border Agency are advising that passengers who can do so may wish to travel on other dates."

Jonathan Sedgwick, acting chief executive of the UK Border Agency, said: "We will do everything we can to minimise disruption and inconvenience to travellers but our priority will always be to ensure that the UK border remains secure."

'Tough realities'
More than 3,000 schools in England and Wales will be closed, and some 2,200 partially closed, the government has said, because of 24-hour strike action by members of the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.



At a time when many firms are still struggling, this is the last thing they need”

Colin Stanbridge
Chief executive, London Chamber of Commerce
Announcing the figures on Tuesday, Mr Gove said the situation with another 10,872 schools was "not at that stage known".

The British Chambers of Commerce said many parents would lose pay for taking the day off work to look after their children, and productivity would be hit.

"Public sector pensions have long faced problems of affordability, and reforms to bring them into line with those in the private sector are essential," said director general David Frost.

"The reality is that our workforce is living longer, and pensions need to reflect this to be sustainable in the long term.

"The private sector has had to wake up to the tough realities of pension provision in a rapidly changing world, and the public sector must do the same."

'Good deal'
Colin Stanbridge, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce, said: "With teachers going on strike and parents having to stay at home to look after their children, the day itself will prove a nightmare for businesses as staff absence and losses in productivity will be inevitable.

"At a time when many firms are still struggling, this is the last thing they need and public sector unions need to realise the impact their actions will have on the economy."

Members of the University and College Union and the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union are also involved in Thursday's strike action.

Addressing the Local Government Association conference on Tuesday, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "To those considering strike action, when discussions are ongoing, I say to you these strikes are wrong, for you, for the people you serve and for the good of the country."

The PM said the proposed changes to public sector pensions were a "good deal".

Labour leader Ed Miliband said the strikes would be a "mistake", and that both sides should get back round the negotiating table.

"Public sector pensions do need to be reformed," he said. "But the government has to take its share of responsibility for the provocative way they have handled these negotiations."

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Holidays at risk as Virgin pilots vote to strike in pay row

Tens of thousands of families face having their holidays ruined after  Virgin Atlantic pilots voted overwhelmingly for strike action.

The walk-outs by the airline's 750 pilots will hit key long-haul routes, including flights to Disney theme parks in California and Florida as well as  destinations in the Caribbean, the Far East and Australia.

Although strike dates have not been announced it is likely that a first walk-out would take place in July - with more to follow over the summer.



Chaos: The threat of summer holiday havoc at U.S. airports was raised today after Virgin Atlantic pilots voted overwhelmingly to strike in a row over pay

The pilots, who earn up to £110,000 a year, are angry at a 4 per cent pay offer after three years of salary freezes, says the British Airline Pilots' Association.

Some 97 per cent voted for walk-outs in a ballot that saw a 94 per cent turnout.

Sir Richard Branson's airline said it was disappointed but was preparing 'contingency plans' to deal with any walk-out.

 

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Majority of Brits unsure of cover whilst driving abroad

Recently conducted research from one car insurance comparison site found that the lion’s share of Brits have no idea if their motor car insurance covers accidents that happen whilst driving abroad.

Online car insurance site Moneysupermarket.com, which conducted the research study, urged motorists to ensure their existing cheap car insurance policies will provide proper cover for their cars while motoring overseas.  The study findings demonstrated that one out of every three motorists in the UK are labouring under the sometimes mistaken believe that their UK cover, which may be fully comprehensive at home, will carry over to the rest of the Euro zone.

The price comparison site revealed however that there are many different car insurance companies in the UK that will downgrade their cover to the bare bones minimum required by law to drive about in their holiday destinations. Moneysupermarket’s expert on car insurance, Peter Harrison, remarked that Brits that are considering driving to their holiday spots on the Continent should not just assume that their existing cover will still be valid in such occasion.

Stating that there’s not one UK driver that wants their perfect motoring getaway to end up costing an arm and a leg due to expensive, nightmarish situations, Mr Harrison urged motorists to educate themselves on the particulars of their insurance cover.

In related news, the comparison site recently came forward with several different tips to newly qualified drivers that could be finding it a struggle to find an affordable insurance policy.

In a bid to reduce premium costs to young males, who typically have some of the highest costs to such cover, were told to add a named driver to their current policy.

 

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The cold blooded murder of an Argentinian tourist on Thursday in the beaches of Costa Rica has again raised the question of insecurity and safety for tourism in the Central American country

The cold blooded murder of an Argentinian tourist on Thursday in the beaches of Costa Rica has again raised the question of insecurity and safety for tourism in the Central American country, which receives every year more than 2 million visitors.

Carolina Silva, 29, who was shot in the head in Playa Samara by two criminals to steal her laptop, is joined by the death of a young American who was shot by a hotel security guard earlier this month, when he tried to sneak in after curfew.

A French couple have gone missing in the last couple of months, the couple disappearing in March after spending several days holidaying in Costa Rica. A similar fate befell English journalist Michael Dixon, who hasn't been seen or heard from since last October, after he disappeared in the Pacific beach town of Tamarindo, one of the most popular beaches in Costa Rica.

Drugs, social problems, unemployment and alcoholism has become scourges in the country of less than 5 million people.

In Limón, on the Caribbean coast, an American tourist was killed years ago. The same in Golfito in the southern zone.

These and other acts of violence against tourists has led both the United States and Great Britain to issue travel advisories for Costa Rica, warning their citizens to take precautions before travelling to paradise.

According to police figures, there are at least 30 complaints filed per month for thefts against foreign tourists, this not counting the number of attacks not reported, that could be as high as five or ten or more times the reported.

More than half of all foreign visitors to a country that sells its image abroad as a "green country and environmentally friendly" come from the United States.

Another large percentage comes from Europe, especially countries like Germany and Spain, whose nationals have been attacked in Costa Rica.

Jason Alvarado, of the Cámara Nacional de Turismo (CANATUR) - national chamber of tourism - has been calling on the government to make efforts to make the country a "safe destination".

The tourism sector has been hard hit with the world economic crisis which has meant more tourists coming to Costa Rica, but are spending less.

Figures by the Instituto Costarricense Tourism (ICT) - Tourism ministry - tourist arrivals are are up 7% for the first three month of 2011 over the same period last year, but are staying a few days less that tourists of the past and spending a few hundred dollars less.

Add to that the insecurity question and revenue from tourism and its indirect effect can quickly devastate a country whose main industry is tourism.

The current mood can be easily summed up by the words of Argentina's ambassador to Costa Rica, Juan José Arcuri, commenting on the Silva murder, "what happened is appalling, outrageous and unacceptable".

And although Costa Rican authorities are concerned about crime against tourists as it will "tarnish" the image of Costa Rica as a "paradise", as it promises abroad, it is difficult to gauge if there really are doing something or anything about it.

At first look the answer is a "no".

The problem is not a new problem, attacks on tourists has grown since when in 1996 there was recorded the kidnapping of German national Nicola Fleuchas and Swiss national, Susana Sigfried, who were spending the year end in Boca Tapada de San Carlos. Both were abducted by a Nicaraguan "comando" group.

The two women were held hostage for a total of 71 days and released after the payment of a ransom.

The government created several years the "policia turistica" (tourism police) to provide security for tourists and the industry in general.

But CANATUR and local tourism chambers consider that the government has to do more when related to public safety, especially more police presence, as indicated by polls.

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Tube workers are to go on strike from 9pm today, in protest at the sacking of a driver, and this is the first of a number of strikes due to take place in June and July.

The walkout by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) members will go on from 9pm on Sunday to 3am on Monday.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) is alleging that Arwyn Thomas was unfairly sacked for his union activities and are demanding his reinstatement.
London Underground (LU) said it would abide by the outcome of a tribunal ruling which is due shortly, and that the strike would 'achieve nothing.
The strike is due to last six hours, but LU claims it will cause little disruption.
LU said: 'We expect this strike to have very little impact both on Sunday evening and on Monday morning and are working hard to ensure this is the case.'
An RMT spokesman said: 'Unfortunately, management refused point blank to even discuss re-employing Arwyn.
'Therefore, we have no option but to go ahead with our strike action to defend our longstanding rep and activist.'
Further strikes are planned on Monday 27 June from 9pm to Tuesday 28 June 12am.
Also on Wednesday 29 June from 12am to Thursday 30 June at 12am, and on on Friday 1 July drivers will strike from 12am to 9pm.

 

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Pilots working for Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. will probably go on strike over pay rates

Pilots working for Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. will probably go on strike over pay rates, the London-based Times reported, citing a British Airline Pilots Association official, who it didn’t identify.
Walkouts are set for next month at an airline that’s never before had strikes, according to the report.
“We have offered everybody the same increases and only one group of workers has refused it,” Richard Branson, president of the airline, told the newspaper. “I am sure we will get it sorted.” A ballot of workers closes June 21, the Times said.

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WWF says Croatia is destroying 'Europe's Amazon'

Croatia's waterway management plans, being enforced as the country closes in on European Union membership, could destroy Europe's largest river protected area, nature defenders WWF said Friday.
The environmental watchdog said that "111 kilometres (69 miles) of 'Europe's Amazon', comprising parts of the natural meandering river stretches of the Danube, Drava and Mura rivers in Croatia, could be channelled in a way that would destroy Europe's largest river protected area without bringing any real economic benefit to the region."
Three major river regulation projects in the border area with Hungary and Serbia, that Croatia has tried to implement since 2008, comprise construction of 190 new structures, and include dredging gravel and sand from the natural river beds to increase navigation and flood protection.
However, environmental groups deem it unnecessary, the WWF statement said.
"The enforcement of such outdated projects just before Croatia's admission to the EU is a big scandal," it quoted Arno Mohl, a WWF project coordinator, as saying.
He labelled the plans the "biggest threat to the Danube, Drava and Mura in Croatia in the last 30 years" and called for them to be stopped immediately.
In March, five central European countries -- Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia and Slovenia -- signed a deal to launch a cross-border nature reserve.
It paved the way for the creation of the world's first five-country protected area, described as 'Europe's Amazon' because of its rich biodiversity.
The reserve will create Europe's largest riverine protected area, covering 700 kilometres (435 miles) along the Danube, Drava and Mura rivers.
It includes rare floodplain forests and river islands and is home to Europe's highest density of breeding pairs of white-tailed eagle and endangered species such as the little tern, black stork and otters, WWF said.
Earlier this month the European Commission gave Croatia the green light to complete EU accession talks and become the bloc's next member on July 1, 2013.

 

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TWO South Bucks residents have been hit by suspected bouts of the potentially deadly e.coli virus.

David Tassell of Beaconsfield, and Harry Pinder, 28, of Chalfont St Peter, have both been rushed to hospital in the past week after suffering from symptoms which match those of the deadly disease.
Mr Tassell caught the illness after returning from a summer break in Marbella in Spain, while Mr Pinder was struck down following a trip to Germany.
Both men were in good health before the trips, but suffered from symptoms including vomiting blood, diarrhoea and double vision.
The pair have now made full recoveries but say that their experiences were terrible.
Mr Pinder said: "I was fine while I was away, and enjoyed the trip. I heard about the outbreak while I was in Germany. It was big news over there because it is believed that is where it started, but I didn't think too much of it.
"The day after I got back, I suddenly started feeling awful. I couldn't keep down anything at all, food or water, and I was vomiting blood.
"I felt dizzy and had double vision. My girlfriend could see I was in bad way so she took me to hospital and they kept me in for three days, giving me various types of medication.
"I don't really remember it all that well to be honest. After a couple of days I started to feel better, and after three days I was allowed out."
Mr Pinder returned from hospital on Sunday, but says he is still recovering.
He said: "I'm still very weak and feel bad every time I stand up. I'm eating, but only very bland stuff at the moment, but I'm on the road to recovery.
"I knew that it was a very bad illness, and with the stuff in the news I thought it might be e.coli.
"I asked the doctors in the hospital and although they wouldn't confirm it, they said it was very likely that it was, and that I picked it up from eating something in Germany.
"It was terrible, but I'm lucky not to have suffered from it worse."
Mr Tassell, a driving instructor who is well known in Beaconsfield, tells a similar story.
He was struck down a few days after returning to the country, and also suddenly became violently ill.
He said: "It was horrendous. I was vomiting blood and my wife had to call an ambulance."
He spent three days in hospital before being allowed home, but doctors say his illness cannot be confirmed as e.coli.
It was recently announced that the source of the deadly e.coli outbreak, has been identified as being locally grown vegetable sprouts in Germany.
The illness has so far left 24 people dead, infected 2,400 and left hundreds with kidney complications worldwide.

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West Kerry girls teach the jet set how to sail

TWO young West Kerry women will spend the summer as sailing instructors on the higly exclusive holiday island of Martha's Vineyard, which is a favourite destination of American Presidents.

Lís O'Connor from Dingle and Lily Ní Dhomhnaill from Camp flew out to Boston at the weekend and will take up their jobs on June 20 on the island off Cape Cod in New England . Both have been sailing since they were small children and have accumulated an impressive list of sailing qualifications.

"A few people from the Dingle Sailing Club have been instructing in America over the years so I asked Lily to apply to a few places with me. We'd heard good things about Martha's Vineyard so we sent off our forms and kept our fingers crossed. We got a good response from the sailing club in Martha's Vineyard but we had to do an interview over Skype. That was a bit surreal but it all worked out well and they offered jobs to both of us," Lís told The Kerryman.

"They have 12 instructors at the club and seven of them are from Ireland. We'll be teaching young children in the mornings and teenagers in the afternoons. Barack Obama was on holidays on Martha's Vineyard last year so you'd never know who we might meet!" she added.

 

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British holidaymakers are much more likely to head abroad for their holidays this year,

British holidaymakers are much more likely to head abroad for their holidays this year, with the unreliable weather leading to a decline in so-called 'staycations'.

According to figures released by the Office for National Statistics yesterday (12 June) the number of Brits travelling abroad during the first three months of the year rose by 4% in 2011.

France is one of the key destinations likely to see a boost in hotel bookings as a result of this trend, as a recent survey by the Co-operative Travel found that French holidays are 31% more popular this year.

Natalie Goulet, spokeswoman for the France tourism development agency Atout France, said that this was not surprising as the country offers 'good value for money'.

'City breaks and short breaks continue to be strong… France [is] well positioned with its proximity and wide choice of transport options and direct links from the UK,' she said.

Ms Goulet added that Provence, Rhone-Alps, Normandy, Brittany and the Atlantic coast are all likely to be highly popular regions this summer.

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A Cornwall fisherman is claiming that a species of shark blamed for countless attacks on humans rammed his boat.

The lifelong sailor believes the shark was an oceanic whitetip, a species that usually inhabits warmer and deeper waters.

He claims the 2 metre (7ft) long predator "zigzagged" towards his vessel and "slammed into it" before circling a second boat.

The 60-year-old mackerel fisherman, who asked not to be named, reported the sighting to the harbourmaster's office in St Ives, north Cornwall. He said he was "interested" when the shark began heading towards his boat. "I stood up to have a good look at it. As I was looking over the side of the boat, it just slammed into it.

"Then its head came out of the water by about a foot. It was that close to the boat that it slammed the side of the boat with its body and tail. It came as a bit of a shock. It was aggressive and we don't tend to have aggressive sharks in these waters."

He is certain it was not a porbeagle shark, often seen off the Cornish coast. "I have been fishing in these waters all my life and I have seen all sorts, but I have never had a shark ram my boat," he said. "This was an aggressive shark. I was in a 16ft [5 metre] boat, but if I had been in a kayak it could have easily had a bite at my legs."

He returned to port after the encounter and 10 minutes later two fisherman on board a second boat watched as a shark, believed to be the same one, circled them. One said: "I am 100% sure it was an oceanic whitetip. The water was crystal clear and we had a perfect view. It was pretty scary."

Richard Peirce, chairman of the Shark Trust, which promotes conservation and study of the creatures, was cautious about the sightings. He said: "It is always exciting and interesting to get sighting reports of what may be new species to our waters. Elements of the description we have heard are consistent with oceanic whitetips, although to date there have been no confirmed reports of oceanics in UK waters."

A spokesman for the harbourmaster in St Ives said he was not "100% sure" if the shark was an oceanic whitetip. The species has been blamed for many attacks on victims of shipwrecks and plane crashes at sea over the years. The spokesman said people should not blow the reports "out of all proportion".

The Western Morning News reported the sightings, saying: "A man-eating shark is feared to be prowling the waters off west Cornwall after two separate sightings of the predator considered the most dangerous of its species."

Shark sightings off Cornwall are generally treated with caution. In 2007 a video of a great white shark, supposedly taken off Cornwall, created excitement and fear before it was revealed that it had actually been filmed in South Africa. A Newquay nightclub bouncer had sent it into a local newspaper for a joke and been amazed when it made headlines around the world.

The oceanic whitetip is commonly found far further south in deeper waters away from the coast, with Portugal being the usual northernmost reach of its habitat. It is one of the species suspected of being behind attacks on people off Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.

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Cornwall may charge £1 'tourism tax'

The proposed £1 a night charge would be the UK's first tourist tax and would help pay for infrastructure maintenance costs in the area, which are rising due to the high number of visitors.

Visitors to Cornwall could pay a £1 tourist tax per night under new proposals (Thinkstock)
It is estimated that a whopping £25 million could be raised each year through the tax, with around 4.5 million people heading to Cornwall to sample clotted cream and enjoy the sea air each summer alone.
But while local residents may welcome the improvements such a tax would lead to, tourism bodies have reacted angrily to the suggestion.
Kevin Oliver, chairman of the Cornwall Federation of Small Businesses, said it could be detrimental to the economy, telling the Daily Telegraph: 'If you introduce a tourist tax you turn people away from Cornwall and why would anybody want to do that?'
Mayor of Newquay Andy Hannan said it would put Cornwall at a disadvantage compared to the rest of the region.
The number of people heading to Cornwall for their summer break has increased in recent years, thanks to the trend for 'staycations'.
Figures from Travelodge show that the region ranks among the top UK destinatio

 

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Thousands of travelers have been left stranded in Australia owing to hundreds of domestic and international flights canceled on Sunday, due to volcanic ash plume from Chile

Thousands of travelers have been left stranded in Australia owing to hundreds of domestic and international flights canceled on Sunday, due to volcanic ash plume from Chile which has made its way across the Atlantic and Indian oceans is wreaking havoc on Australian airways.

Qantas canceled all 14 flights in and out of Tasmania on Sunday while eight flights between Australia and Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown of New Zealand were canceled on Sunday morning.

Low-cost carrier Jetstar canceled 12 flights between Australia and New Zealand, 24 services between Tasmania and the mainland, and 30 domestic New Zealand flights.

Qantas and Jetstar said that they expected about 16,000 passengers will be affected with their cancellation of flights.

Virgin Australia continued to fly using alternative routes and altitudes early on Sunday, but by mid-afternoon had also decided to cancel five flights to and from Australia and New Zealand.

According to Qantas spokeswoman Olivia Wirth, it is unclear when flights will resume.

"At this stage it's safety first and safety before schedule," she told ABC News, adding "we believe it's absolutely prudent and the right thing to do to suspend operations until we have more details on the density of the cloud and the impact this will have."

She said Qantas will alert passengers if flights on Monday will be affected.

Chile's Puyehue volcano is more than 9,000 km away from New Zealand, and strong winds have carried its ash across the Pacific since the eruption more than a week ago.

Airservices Australia said the volcanic plume could affect air travel between Australia and New Zealand for the next few days.

In a statement, it said the main ash cloud had reached airspace in southern Tasmania and the south island of New Zealand, but it was expected to pass to the south of the Australian mainland.

Airservices Australia said traffic management officers were working with airlines to minimize disruption by re-routing aircraft wherever possible.

The eruption is also causing travel chaos in parts of Argentina and Uruguay, and has also affected flights in the south of Brazil.

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Athletes pay tribute to crash pilot

A signal from a mobile phone led emergency services in Florida to the site of a plane crash in which a British trainee pilot, who had represented Scotland in athletics, and her brother were killed.
Tributes have been paid to Carly Beattie, 21, who was flying in a Cessna 152 with her brother Daniel, 24, when it crashed on Thursday in a wooded area near Blue Cypress Lake.
Ms Beattie was in America as part of her degree course at a British university and her parents were visiting from Scotland when the tragedy happened.

 

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It was vicious. It was frightening. There were punches going off in all directions'Up to 12 people are being questioned by police in Barbados after a fight broke out mid-air on a flight from Gatwick to Barbados

A man aged 76 and two members of his family were arrested after a ‘vicious’ punch-up on a plane that took cabin crew 30 minutes to break up.

Derek Edmond, his daughter Zoe King and her husband Martin were on a Virgin Atlantic flight from Gatwick to Barbados when a Danish family sitting nearby accused them of being too noisy.

Police said Mrs King, 46, was celebrating her birthday and she and her family had been drinking for much of the eight-hour flight.


Rowdy: British passengers who were allegedly involved in a mid-air brawl on a flight to Barbados being questioned by police on the island


Fracas at 30,000ft: Up to 12 people are being questioned by police in Barbados after a fight broke out mid-air on a flight from Gatwick to Barbados

After the Danes complained, other passengers watched in horror as Mr King, 49, and his wife allegedly swapped punches with a family sitting in front of them as flight crew tried to pull them apart.

The pilot radioed ahead for the flight to be met by police and the Kings and Mr Edmond were arrested when it landed at Grantley Adams Airport.

 

Passenger Elsa Brandford, 70, said: ‘It was unbelievable, it was like something out of a movie. I saw a woman shout, “You swore in front of my child”. She said it about six times, each time louder than the last one. She said, “And it’s my birthday”.

‘I heard more and more voices getting involved. There was about five minutes of shouting while people gathered around and before I knew it they were throwing punches and jumping on each other.

‘Most of the people were standing on their seats while throwing punches.



Island destination: The fight took place among a group of passengers who had been drinking heavily, said witnesses

‘It was vicious. It was frightening. There were punches going off in all directions.

‘But as it went on people came round to try to split them up and about half an hour later they had it under control.’ More than a dozen officers met the plane carrying 280 passengers on Thursday afternoon and ten people, including crew, were taken for questioning.

Mrs King left the plane with her arm in a sling, while her husband had a black eye.

Inspector David Welch, of Barbados police, said: ‘There appeared to be a birthday celebration that got too noisy. A Danish national on the flight complained and the fracas started from there.’

The Kings and Mr Edmond appeared in court yesterday charged with disruptive behaviour on an aircraft. They face two years in prison or a fine if convicted.

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The British government has updated its travel advice about Costa Rica to note that eight foreign nationals, including one British citizen, have gone missing in the last two years

The British government has updated its travel advice about Costa Rica to note that eight foreign nationals, including one British citizen, have gone missing in the last two years, with some in suspicious circumstances.
This follows a report by BBC World's Fast Track programme into the disappearance of British journalist Michael Dixon, who went missing while on holiday in Costa Rica two years ago, and an appeal from his family to the Foreign Secretary William Hague.
The Costa Rican authorities concluded that his disappearance was due to accidental death, but with no evidence to support this. Michael's family believe he was the victim of a violent crime.
Michael's brother David believes that if the official travel advice had contained a stronger warning two years ago, his brother may not have gone to Costa Rica.
The updated advice also warns tourists to beware of gang muggings and armed robberies in broad daylight.
The latest foreign tourists to vanish are a French couple, Gerard and Claude Dubois, who were travelling on Costa Rica's central Pacific coast in March. Their rented car was found abandoned south of Quepos, and their passports were found a few days later in a rubbish bin.

Foreigners Missing in Costa Rica
Gerard and Claude Dubois, French - April 2011 (Quepos)
Barbara Struncova, Czech (expat) - Dec 2010 (Tamarindo)
Austin Allen Hiers, American - Oct 2010 (Tamarindo)
Steve Edelson, American - Sept 2010 (Puerto Viejo)
Kim Paris, Canadian (expat) - Aug 2010 (Cóbano)
Roger Peter Biennvennu, American (expat) - July 2010 (Quebradas)
Kelly Robert Nutting, American (expat) - March 2010 (Golfito)
John Scibeck, American - Jan 2010 (Playa Portrero)
Herbert Langmaier and Horst Hauser, Austrian (expats) - Dec 2009 (Puerto Jiménez)
Michael Dixon, UK - October 2009 (Tamarindo)
David Gimelfarb, American - August 2009 (Rincon de Vieja)
Craig Snell, American (expat) - February 2009 (Ostional)
Brendan Dobbins, Australian - March 2005 (Tamarindo)
Source: The Missing Americans Project
The Lonely Planet travel guide describes Costa Rica as "a peaceful oasis in a tumultuous region", but in a new development, the Costa Rican Foreign Minister, Rene Castro, said that although the country's reputation as a safe haven is "still justified" there is "an increase in the violence of crime and an increasing amount of drugs seized".
He admitted that the Costa Rican police are "ill-equipped" to deal with cases of missing tourists, and added that he would "welcome the co-operation of the [British] police" in the Dixon case and would be "open to share whatever clues we have and will not hesitate in opening the door to specialists".
David Dixon said nobody wanted to take ownership of Michael's case, partly because his brother had been living and working in Belgium for 10 years but was a British citizen, and also because of a flaw in international protocol.
"We found some new clues and wanted to get the British police involved - but they said they couldn't get involved unless they received an official request from the Costa Rican police.
The Costa Rican authorities said they were welcome to come but refused to send an official letter inviting them to come over… We were stuck in between." He hopes that Mr Castro's invitation to the British police will help open a proper investigation.
'Wrong call'
Tamarindo, a small tourist town on the Pacific Ocean coast, was Michael's third port of call in Costa Rica.
The last confirmed sighting of him was walking out of the Villas Macondo hotel in Tamarindo on Monday 18th October - shortly after he had checked in.
Michael's family didn't find out he had gone missing until a week later, when Michael failed to show up for work in Brussels.
"We know that the UK Foreign Office was alerted three days after his disappearance but they decided not to inform us as people choose to go missing all the time," David recalls.

A missing person is not considered a victim in the way that a person who has been mugged or murdered is - they don't slot into the system
Matt Searle
Lucie Blackman Trust
"To us this was very irresponsible, seeing that all his belongings, his passport and credit card were still in his hotel room. When they were questioned about this later, they said it was the wrong call," he adds.
David thinks this delay critically impeded all progress in the subsequent attempts to find his brother.
"Who knows, we may have found him or found out what happened to him if we had known in time, these are the golden hours and days of a missing person's case."
Painful obstacles


We've always thought that the worst thing that could happen to anyone would be to lose a child - to lose a child and not know what has happened is even worse
Lynn and Hubert Dixon
Matt Searle, operations manager of the Lucie Blackman Trust, which assists families with missing relatives, says a common complaint is that there is no single global body able to coordinate a search for a missing person abroad.
"There are no global standards when you're dealing with a missing person overseas, and it's those first 24 hours that are crucial.
A missing person is not considered a victim in the way that a person who has been mugged or murdered is, a missing person is nothing, they don't slot into the system."
Mr Searle added that in some countries a missing foreigner isn't considered a high priority.
"Often local authorities don't like families displaying missing person posters, because it might damage tourism, and will take them down. That's on top of the language and time differences and red tape and lawyers' fees families face."
Foreign Office records, released to the BBC under the Freedom of Information Act, showed 242 Britons were missing abroad at the end of 2010. Many had disappeared years earlier and their cases remain unsolved.
Last sighting?
Michael Dixon was 33-years-old when he travelled to Costa Rica, and apparently enjoying life.

We've heard from quite a few witnesses that Michael was last seen in a bar surrounded by some people known to be troublemakers
David Dixon
David has produced t-shirts, released a record and turned to Facebook and Twitter in an effort to raise awareness and find out what happened to his brother.
"Not a day passes when I do not miss Michael - I will never stop looking for him," he said.
His parents, Lynn and Hubert Dixon, say that time has not helped to heal their pain. "One wonders what happened, did he suffer - one tries not to imagine...
We've always thought that the worst thing that could happen to anyone would be to lose a child - to lose a child and not know what has happened to him is even worse."
The Dixons refuse to accept the conclusion drawn by the Costa Rican authorities that Michael drowned in the sea on that fateful afternoon he left the hotel - they believe there may be a more sinister explanation.
"We think he's a victim of crime, we've heard from quite a few witnesses that Michael was seen on the night of his disappearance in a bar surrounded by some people who are known to be troublemakers in the local community," David said.
"Costa Rica is a beautiful country, there's a lot to see, but they have a huge problem of crime which they need to face up to and take ownership of."

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The deadly new strain of E.coli that has killed 18 people in Europe risks spreading from person to person in Britain

seven cases of the food poisoning bacteria were diagnosed in Britain, the agency said that the mutant strain was so virulent that sufferers risked spreading the infection to friends and relations through close contact.
With more than 30,000 people travelling between Britain and Germany every day, officials fear the outbreak could take hold here.
The agency said anyone who had recently travelled to Germany should be vigilant about their personal hygiene to minimise the risk of passing on the bacteria, which can attack the kidneys with potentially fatal consequences.
The outbreak is on course to be the world’s “biggest ever”, according to one of the country’s leading microbiologists. The agency added that it was shocked by its “unprecedented” scale and severity. More than 1,600 people have been infected worldwide, mainly in northern Germany. Hundreds have been left seriously ill and at least 18 have died.
It emerged last night that the food bug has struck two Americans who had recently travelled to Hamburg. Both are expected to survive but experts warned that the bacteria could be exported to the US.

 

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Health Official Says E. Coli Strain Was Previously Unknown

The World Health Organization said Thursday that an unusually lethal strain of E. coli, which has infected more than 1,500 people in Germany, mystified public health officials and threatened to touch off panic in Europe, was a previously unknown variant of the bacteria, raising new concerns about the extent and severity of the contagion.
Related


As consumers across Europe weighed whether it was safe to eat raw produce, Russia extended a ban on fresh vegetable imports, initially imposed on produce from Spain and Germany, to encompass all of the European Union on Thursday, triggering a sharp response from European officials who called the move “disproportionate.”

Britain’s Health Protection Agency, meanwhile, confirmed Thursday that the number of cases in Britain had risen from three to seven, with the bacteria found in people who had recently traveled to Germany. For the first time, it said, three residents of Britain were among those infected. There had been no cases of secondary infection, the agency said.

In Geneva, Gregory Hartl, a spokesman for the World Health Organization, said: “What we understand is this is a strain which has never been detected in an outbreak situation before.” He said scientists at “many laboratories” were working to gather more information about the strain. The origins of the outbreak, which has killed at least 17 people — 16 in Germany and a Swede who visited there recently — remains unknown.

In a statement on Thursday, a Chinese laboratory collaborating with German scientists said the contagion had been caused by a “new strain of bacteria that is highly infectious and toxic.” The strain carries “several antibiotic resistant genes,” according to the Beijing Genomics Institute in the southern city of Shenzen, “which makes antibiotic treatment extremely difficult.”

The statement referred to the strain as “entirely new” and “super-toxic” and said it was similar to a strain known as EAEC 55989 found in the Central African Republic and known to cause serious diarrhea. The Chinese laboratory had been working with scientists at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf at the epicenter of the outbreak.

“The situation is still tense,” said Jörg Debatin, director of the Hamburg-Eppendorf facility. “At the beginning of the week we had been hoping to see a trend towards fewer infections, but that has not happened.”

Holger Rohde, a bacteriologist at the same medical center, said tests conducted with the Chinese scientists in Shenzen had shown that the new strain was a hybrid that caused the virulent complication of E.coli known as hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, which attacks the kidneys and can be lethal.

“This is a genetic combination we have not seen before,” he said. About 80 per cent of the genetic composition derived from the E.Coli strain 0104. But the other 20 per cent came from another more toxic bacterium.

Louise Brown, a spokeswoman for Britain’s Health Protection Agency, said the strain of E.coli causing the outbreak “has a combination of characteristics that have not been identified in strains that have caused illness before.”

The most striking difference with previous contagions was that “large numbers of people between 16 and 60” have developed HUS. “The evidence that is already available tells us that the German authorities have been dealing with something new,” she said in an e-mailed statement.

In recent days, the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a European Union agency based in Stockholm, and other health authorities in Europe have blamed the outbreak on a rare strain of E. coli called O104:H4.

Since 2008, there have been only eight cases linked to that strain reported in the European Union, according to the agency, whose Web site was still reporting on Thursday that laboratory results indicated O104:H4 carried in contaminated food was “the causative agent” of the outbreak in Germany and had also been detected in Denmark.

Quite apart from health concerns, the impact of the outbreak spread increasingly to European politics and the continent’s economic relations.Russian news reports quoted health officials as saying Moscow’s ban on European produce would begin immediately. If strictly enforced, the prohibition would magnify the woes of European Union farmers since Russia ranks among their biggest markets. Farmers in Germany and Spain have already complained that public fear of contagion has forced them to destroy their crops.

“What Russia is doing is disproportionate,” Frederic Vincent, the spokesman for the European Union’s Health Commissioner John Dalli, said Thursday. He said the commission would send a letter later Thursday to Moscow explaining why Russia should remove the restrictions. Russia relies on imports from the European Union for up to 40 percent of its fruits and vegetables and the market is worth up to $5.5 billion annually, according to the commission.

 

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Britain has changed its advice for travellers going to Portugal after a tourist was killed in a gang attack

Britain has changed its advice for travellers going to Portugal after a tourist was killed in a gang attack. A man form Gateshead was beaten up in Faro, a Portuguese town and after two weeks died as a result of his injuries.
The Foreign Office has reported that Britons should be wary of such attacks when they are on holiday. They said they are taking the matter very seriously and that visitors should be careful. They are providing consular assistance with regards to the attack and have changed their travel advice to warn Britons travelling to the area to be careful of the possibility of violent attacks.
They have not advised against all travel at all, so there is no need for anyone to panic. However, it is a good idea to be cautious while in the country and avoid anything that looks like it might be a gang fight. With the Foreign Office working with the police in the area as well as the local authorities, it is likely that they will be keeping a close eye on what is going on and change their travel advice should it be necessary. This could be a one off attack, but it is wise to be careful, just in case. Avoid big gangs of local people, do not get involved in arguments and stick to the main tourist areas where you feel safe. If you use your common sense, you should be okay, but if you have any concerns then contact the local police immediately.

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Two men are due to go on trial today accused of murdering Ben and Catherine Mullany nearly three years after the British honeymooners were shot dead in Antigua.

Kaniel Martin, 23, and Avie Howell, 20, both Antiguan nationals, will appear at the Caribbean island's High Court for the start of what is expected to be a lengthy trial.
The Mullanys, from Pontardawe, South Wales, were staying at the five star, £330-a-night Cocos Hotel when intruders broke into their cottage in the early hours of July 27, 2008.
Mrs Mullany, 31, a qualified paediatrician, died instantly from a single gunshot wound to the head.
Her 31-year-old husband, a student physiotherapist, was placed on a life support machine before being flown home to the Morriston Hospital in Swansea, where his wife had worked.
Mr Mullany, a former South Yorkshire Police officer who had also served in the British Army, was pronounced dead a week after the shooting.

 

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London’s Attractions: 10 Must-Sees

Ah, London Town! Home of the Queen, Chelsea FC, Sherlock Holmes… and of course, millions of tourists every year. So how best to make the most of your London experience? With thousands of things to, see, eat and try, it’s important to stay organised…and to remember that when it comes to deals it isn’t just cheap theatre tickets London has to offer.

To that end, simply read through this handy list of must-dos we’ve compiled for you.

For the refined at heart (or romantics), you simply must try high tea at Claridges. Mouth-watering, indulgent and very English, this afternoon treat is perfect for people with a sweet-tooth. With sandwiches, scones, cakes and a selection of 30 different teas, there's enough to spoil even the most picky of people, so it’s best to wear something loose-fitting but fabulous enough for the hotel’s luxurious, Art Deco-inspired surroundings.
For those with a strict budget, don’t fret, there’s plenty of things to do that don’t cost a penny. Most museums and galleries are free (although steer clear of the gift shop!), and there’s plenty to choose from; for example, the Wallace Collection, Natural History Museum and the Horniman Museum to name a few.
London has an impressive sporting history, with many world-famous venues dotted around the city. Take out a London Pass, allowing you to visit many of the famous stadiums; including Wimbledon, Crystal Palace, and Lords.
Music lovers will relish a visit to the iconic Abbey Road studios. As the birthplace of many classic albums and soundtracks (including the Harry Potter scores, Freddie Mercury’s ‘Solo Collection’, and Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’), this is a must for music buffs. The iconic zebra crossing outside also deserves a visit, having been the star of the Beatles ‘Abbey Road’ album cover; thousands of fans every year flock to pay homage and recreate that famous pose.
For the bold of heart (and stomach), visit the London Dungeon. This museum/theme park/performance area has some of the most ghoulish attractions in London, including the Blood & Guts Surgery and the Extremis Drop Ride; best to visit this one before lunch.
Fashion-conscious tourists can indulge their passion on Oxford Street. One of the most famous shopping districts in the country, Oxford Street has pretty much every high-street store imaginable, including several flag-ship branches. For a more up-market experience try Harrods; this famous department store claims to sell anything your heart desires, and is the last word in London luxury.
If you need to escape the city and catch your breath for a moment, try one of the many parks. Hyde Park is known for its beauty and the attractions on offer, including the Rotten Row riding track and Serpentine Lake. Regent’s Park is great for sports facilities, and comes with an open-air theatre for the warm summer evenings. Richmond Park is best for animal lovers, playing host to around 650 wild deer and many species of bird.
It can’t have escaped your notice that London played host to a rather special wedding this year. Britain’s Royal Family is probably the most famous in the world, and you can get into the spirit of things by visiting many of the attractions traditionally associated with them: Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Kensington Gardens.
If you’re in need of pampering, try Spa London in Bethnal Green. These old Turkish Baths offer a number of budget spa experiences, including massages and make-up application lessons for just £20.
Foodies will be spoilt for choice in London. Try Archipelago in West London for some exotic flavours (including kangaroo, gnu and zebra). For those of a vegetarian persuasion Rootmaster in Shoreditch is perfect for you. If you have a sweet tooth, Scoop in Covent Garden has every flavour, texture and type of ice cream imaginable; for some truly indulgent dining.

 

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Holiday Village hotels are proving very popular this summer thanks to the great facilities they offer for children and adults alike

Travelmatch, a new travel discovery engine, is reporting a significant surge in the popularity of Holiday Village hotels from First Choice. Spots such as Holiday Village Rhodes have received a large amount of visits during the past few months as families opt for stress-free luxury holidays.
There are numerous Holiday Villages in spots around the Mediterranean, and customers booking with travelmatch.co.uk can choose to visit the likes of Cyprus, the Red Sea, the Balearic Islands, the Algarve and Turkey. The hotels offer a wide variety of activities and amenities suitable for children and adults alike: Holiday Villages are equipped with kids' pools, playgrounds, sports academies, gorgeous restaurants and comfortable rooms.
According to travelmatch.co.uk, the popularity of these hotels is only increasing as the school holidays near, and the company expects the Holiday Village chain to have its most successful summer yet.
Alex Francis of Travelmatch comments: "Over the past few months we have received a huge number of bookings to Holiday Village hotels around Europe. Speaking with our customers it is clear that the combination of gorgeous locations, great facilities for children and lovely food is exactly what many Brits look for in a holiday destination. We expect this to be a great summer for people heading to Holiday Villages."
Francis continues: "In many ways these hotels are the perfect place for a busy family as the kids can enjoy themselves with a wide variety of activities while parents relax beside the pool. Best of all, you can make all your arrangements through one simple booking – at Travelmatch we believe going abroad should be easy, and this is certainly the case if you choose to visit somewhere like Holiday Village Costa del Sol, or the Holiday Village Algarve."

 

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