Dallas Star Larry Hagman Dies

Larry Hagman, who starred in the hit TV series Dallas as the scheming oil baron J R Ewing, has died.

His family said in a statement that the 81-year-old died in a Dallas hospital following complications from his battle with cancer.

He had suffered from liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver in the 1990s after decades of drinking.

Dallas, which made its premiere on the CBS network in 1978, made Hagman a superstar.

The show quickly became one of the network's top-rated programmes, built an international following and inspired a spin-off, imitators and a revival in 2012.

The popularity of Dallas made Hagman one of the best-paid actors in television and earned him a fortune. He lost some of it, however, in bad oil investments before turning to real estate.

Hagman with his co-stars Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray

Fans and celebrities took to Twitter to pay tribute to him.

Linda Gray, who played J R's wife, Sue Ellen, said: "Larry Hagman was my best friend for 35 years. He was the Pied Piper of life and brought joy to everyone he knew. He was creative, funny, loving and talented, and I will miss him enormously."

Larry King said: "Larry Hagman was a dear man who had an incredible career. He helped me to stop smoking. He was a very special person."

Piers Morgan wrote: "Very sad to hear that Larry Hagman has died. His J R Ewing character was the greatest TV villain of them all. Wonderful actor."

In July 1995, he was diagnosed with liver cancer, which led him to quit smoking, and a month later he underwent a liver transplant.

Hagman with Barbara Eden at the I Dream Of Jeannie DVD launch

Hagman said he quit drinking the moment doctors told him he had cirrhosis of the liver and could die within six months.

Hagman was born in Weatherford, Texas, and his father was a lawyer who dealt with the Texas oil barons Hagman would later come to portray.

His mother was stage and movie star Mary Martin and he became a star himself in 1965 on I Dream of Jeannie, a popular television sitcom.

Hagman started his acting career in theatre in New York where he married Maj Axelsson in 1954 while they were in a production of South Pacific. They have two children, Heidi and Preston.

He served in the Air Force, spending five years in Europe as the director of USO shows.

Hagman and his wife Maj

In his later years, Hagman became an advocate for organ transplants and an anti-smoking campaigner.

He also was devoted to solar energy, telling the New York Times he had a $750,000 solar panel system at his Ojai estate, and made a commercial in which he portrayed a J R Ewing who had forsaken oil for solar power.

He was also a longtime member of the Peace and Freedom Party, a minor leftist organisation in California.

Hagman had a wide eccentric streak. When he first met actress Lauren Bacall, he licked her arm because he had been told she did not like to be touched and he was known for leading parades on the Malibu beach and showing up at a grocery store in a gorilla suit.

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UKIP Couple Lose Their Three Foster Children

A couple say three foster children were taken from them because of their membership of the UK Independence Party.

The unnamed couple, from South Yorkshire,  took on a baby girl, a boy and an older girl from an ethnic and troubled family background in September.

Less than eight weeks into the placement they were visited by a Rotherham social worker and foster agency official who accused them of belonging to a party with "racist policies" which meant they were unsuitable to look after the children.

The visit followed an anoymous tip-off about the couple's party membership.

The husband and wife tell The Daily Telegraph they were left "dumbfounded" and "offended".

The wife said: "I was dumbfounded. Then my question to both of them was, 'What has UKIP got to do with having the children removed?'

UKIP leader Nigel Farage condemned the decision

"Then one of them said, 'Well, UKIP have got racist policies'. The implication was that we were racist."

"I said, 'I am absolutely offended that you could come in my house and accuse me of being a member of a racist party'."

The paper said the wife denied she and her husband were racist and told the officials they would not have taken them on if they were.

The youngsters were taken away from them within a week.

The wife she was left "bereft", adding: "We felt like we were criminals. From having a little baby in my arms, suddenly there was an empty cot."

UKIP leader Nigel Farage condemned the decision and said: "The council and the panel clearly have no understanding of UKIP and by their actions, clearly no desire to know. To take children out of a safe family environment for such false reasons means they are failing in their role."

Rotherham Council said the decision to remove the children was taken with "careful consideration".

"After a group of sibling children were placed with agency foster carers, issues were raised regarding the long-term suitability of the carers for these particular children," it said in a statement.

"With careful consideration, a decision was taken to move the children to alternative care. We continue to keep the situation under review."

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Social Care Report: 'One In Four' Services Failing

Vulnerable people are at risk of receiving "poor or unsafe care" as pressures on care services take their toll, according to a new report.

The ageing population and the rising tide of patients who suffer from complex or multiple illnesses mean that some care providers are struggling to provide "person centred" care, according to the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Pressure on the care system is having an impact on the respect that patients are receiving in some areas, according to the State of Care report.

The report, based on evidence found from 13,000 CQC inspections, found that one in ten NHS hospitals did not meet basic respect and dignity standards.

And at 15% of 2,500 nursing homes there was a lack of respectful care. Inspectors noted that 20% of 1,362 nursing homes and residential care homes and 15% of 258 NHS hospitals failed to ensure that the people in their care were given the food and drink they need or helped them to eat or drink.

The CQC also raised concerns about staff numbers. It found that 16% of 250 NHS hospitals did not have adequate staffing levels and a quarter of nursing homes failed to meet the CQC staff standards.

Increased pressure on care providers is leading to slip-ups in basic care practices such as record keeping and medicine management, the CQC said.

Overall, one in four services failed at least one of the 16 key standards.

More than one in five NHS hospitals failed to meet standards in medicine management and 22% had poor record keeping, inspectors found.

Jeremy Hunt said a 'rasing of standards' was necessary

The CQC, which regulates health and social care in England, said that when it witnessed poor care, there were three main underpinning factors - a care culture in which the "unacceptable care becomes the norm", an attitude to care that is "task-based", not person-centred, and providers who try to manage with high vacancy rates or poorly deployed staff.

David Behan, chief executive of the CQC, said: "Our report highlights concerns we have that pressures on some services are leading to problems in the quality of care, keeping people safe, treating people with dignity and respect, and involving people in decisions about their own care.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "While there is much to praise about the NHS and social care today we still need to do much more to raise standards of care across the board.

"I've made it absolutely clear that quality of care needs to be valued as highly as the quality of treatment. And that there can be no hiding place for those providing poor care or sub-standard practice."

He said that the Department of Health plans to measure patients' hospital experiences, adding: "By shining a light on those organisations which have problems, we will be able to drive up standards so that everyone gets the quality of care they should expect.

"Where there are problems we expect the CQC and other regulators to take swift action."

Dr Andrew McCulloch, chief executive at the Mental Health Foundation, said the report highlights that vulnerable patients are facing "unnecessary and unacceptable risks", adding: "Unless action is taken further scandals will be inevitable."

Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, added: "At the heart of this report are a number of serious issues: unsafe discharges from hospitals to care homes, the exploitation of vulnerable residents and the fear that many have of raising concerns.

"The basics of good care, such as dignity, compassion and respect, cannot be delivered in a conveyor belt approach which is task orientated or lacking in empathy and human care."

NHS Confederation chief executive Mike Farrar said: "It is extremely worrying that some organisations are still not getting the basics right every time.

"In every part of the health service, we must make it a priority to get the cornerstones of good care right every time, including providing the right food and drink, treating people with dignity and respect, and co-ordinating arrangements to support people when they are ready to leave hospital."

The report also states that there is a growing demand for nursing care within social care settings.

Dr Peter Carter, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said: "This supports what our members have long been telling us about a growing demand for nursing care in the face of reduced staff numbers and a dilution of skills.

"The report echoes the RCN's warnings that not enough hospitals, nursing and care homes are adequately staffed and, when coupled with the wrong mix of skills, is having a real effect on patient care.

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Man Dies In Floods As Storms Set To Continue

A man has died after becoming trapped in his car in floods as large parts of the UK were hit by strong winds and heavy rain.

Forecasters said there will be some respite today with fewer showers - but the wet weather is expected to get worse again this weekend.

Around 90 flood warnings are in place for rivers across England and Wales along with more than 200 less serious flood alerts.

Hundreds of drivers were stranded, thousands of homes were without power and more than 100 people evacuated as winds reached more than 86mph.

In Somerset, emergency services received a call last night reporting a vehicle was wedged under a bridge near a ford in Chew Stoke.

Fire crews and police attended the scene and a man was found in the car and pronounced dead.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said officers were still trying to identify the victim.

The areas worst affected by the heavy downpours were Wales and south-west England.

But the majority of the UK was hit by the storms as they were pushed eastwards throughout Thursday, causing flash flooding.

Western Power said 2,500 customers in the South West and 500 in Wales were without power because of high winds bringing down power lines, but that it was working to reconnect them as quickly as possible.

Three children had to be rescued from Dolbadarn primary school in Llanberis by firefighters in a boat yesterday afternoon when they were prevented from leaving by high water.

Among those hurt in the storms were an elderly pedestrian who cut his head after being struck by a tree, two teenage girls who had head and shoulder injuries and a female driver in her 50s who escaped with minor injuries after the car was crushed by a falling tree trunk.

More follows...

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Votes For Prisoners: Draft Bill To Be Unveiled

A draft bill on whether prisoners should be given the right to vote will be published later today.

MPs will be given three options: giving votes to prisoners who have been behind bars for four years or less, six months or less, or no votes for prisoners at all.

They are likely to get the chance to vote on the bill early next year, and are expected to maintain the blanket ban.

In 2005, the European Court Of Human Rights (ECHR) said it was up to individual countries to decide which prisoners should be denied the right to vote from jail, but that a total ban was illegal.

David Cameron says is strongly opposed to prisoners getting the vote

Officials in Strasbourg have given the Government until Friday to comply with the ruling, and could impose a fine if the law is not changed.

Last February, the Commons called for the blanket ban to be maintained, while Prime Minister David Cameron has ruled out the option of allowing criminals to vote in elections.

Attorney General Dominic Grieve has warned against defying the Strasbourg court, saying its ruling imposes an international legal obligation on the UK.

The European Court of Human Rights made its ruling seven years ago

But Mr Cameron made it clear he did not want to change the status quo.

He told the Commons last month: "I do not want prisoners to have the vote, and they should not get the vote - I am very clear about that.

"If it helps to have another vote in Parliament on another resolution to make it absolutely clear and help put the legal position beyond doubt, I am happy to do that.

"But no one should be in any doubt: prisoners are not getting the vote under this Government."

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Cameron To Insist On Austerity In EU Budget

By Robert Nisbet, Europe Correspondent

David Cameron travels to Brussels later insisting that austerity being enforced around Europe is reflected in the EU's budget.

He will join leaders from all 27 countries at a special summit to set the European Union's spending limits from 2014 to 2020.

It is a complex and deeply divisive process, with the UK balking at the European Commission's opening gambit - to increase the overall spending ceiling to a maximum one trillion euro.

This was flatly rejected by Britain and nearly all the net contributors to the European Union.

The European Council, which represents the interest of the member states, chimed in with its own plan, which represents a real-terms 2% cut from the spending ceiling approved for the current seven-year period.

But the proposal, penned by the Council President Herman van Rompuy, would reduce Britain's rebate and only contains a 1% reduction under so-called "Heading 4", which details the EU's spending on administration costs.

Mr Cameron, and other leaders, believe Brussels should accept some symbolic reductions in red tape and make deeper cuts to the legions of Eurocrats who work in the EU institutions.

The British Prime Minister believes Mr van Rompuy's proposals are moving in the right direction, but he needs to go further.

He has also insisted that the UK's £3bn a year rebate, which was negotiated to compensate Britain for money disbursed to other nations, is not up for discussion.

He told MPs yesterday he would be "fighting incredibly hard" to get the best deal for the UK, but he could use the veto to protect British interests.

The budget has to be agreed by all 27 members and by a majority in the European Parliament.

Other countries also have reservations with the proposals on the table: France and Ireland want to protect agricultural payments to their farmers, Italy is unhappy that other countries' rebates due to expire in 2013 might be renewed while Denmark wants to negotiate its own rebate.

Earlier this month Mr Cameron was blindsided by a Tory rebellion calling for a budget cut, not just a freeze. He may yet face their wrath.

The budget being discussed is about setting an absolute limit on EU spending, but the money spent is always considerably less.

So while the PM might be able to claim a victory in securing a freeze in total EU spending limits, UK taxpayers may still have to fork out more cash to Brussels.

If no agreement is reached, more summits will be held in the new year.

If there are still problems, the annual budget will roll over with an extra 2% added to take account of inflation.

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Gaza: Ceasefire Delayed As Shelling Continues

A ceasefire between the Israelis and the Palestinians in Gaza has been delayed – but a diplomatic push is under way to try to stop the fighting.

Last night Hamas official Ayman Taha said that an Egyptian-brokered truce had been finalised and would take effect from 10pm.

But a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the announcement was premature.

The United States has now stepped in, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meeting Mr Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

A rocket fired from Gaza hit an apartment building near Tel Aviv

Mrs Clinton has vowed to work on a truce between the two sides.

She said: "In the days ahead the United States will work with our partners here in Israel and across the region toward an outcome that bolsters security for the people of Israel, improves conditions for the people of Gaza and moves toward a comprehensive peace for all people of the region."

Israel intensified its bombardment of Gaza on Tuesday night, with airstrikes just 10 minutes apart.

Artillery shells and missiles were also fired from gunboats.

Parachute flares illuminate the Gaza Strip for an artillery barrage

One Israeli airstrike hit the seventh floor of a media building in Gaza City.

The Israel Defence Forces tweeted a warning to all foreign journalists operating in Gaza to stay away from Hamas militants just minutes later.

Some 138 rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel. The Iron Dome system intercepted 53 rockets which were headed for built-up areas, however 14 got through.

One hit an apartment building in the town of Rishon Letsion near Tel Aviv. Six people were injured in the attack.

A spokesman for Mr Netanyahu said the ceasefire announcement was premature

Rockets were also aimed at Jerusalem, where residents took to underground bomb shelters. However, none fell on the city.

Israel launched the offensive one week ago in an attempt to end months of rocket attacks out of the Hamas-run territory, which lies on Israel's southern flank.

After assassinating Hamas' military chief, it has carried out a campaign of airstrikes, targeting rocket launchers, storage sites and wanted militants.

The campaign has killed more than 130 Palestinians, including 20 on Tuesday, and wounded hundreds of others.

Five Israelis have been killed by rocket fire, including a soldier and a civilian contractor.

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