Other UK News In Brief

CCTV Catches Hammer Killer

A man has been convicted of murdering his wife at their Edinburgh flat by smashing her head with a hammer. Yahya Babiker was seen on CCTV buying a hammer at a local DIY store after he had gone out on the afternoon of 19 October to buy the murder weapon at a Homebase store. A jury at the High Court in Perth unanimously found Yahya Babiker, 45, guilty of carrying out the attack on his wife Randa Kamblawi, 34. The trial heard how Mrs Kamblawi's body was found in the bath of the couple's home last October. Babiker, who claimed his wife had fallen in the bath, will be sentenced next month.

NI Boss On Dissident Threat

There remains a "very real and serious threat from dissident republicans, intent on causing death and serious injury". That's the view of the NI Secretary of State Owen Paterson who has just given his view on the 23rd Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) report on levels of paramilitary activity. "The IMC report that the criminal justice system offers a potent response to paramilitaries, particularly now it is owned by and accountable to the people of NI. While dissident republicans remain highly active and dangerous, the IMC confirm that their activities are in no way a reappearance of something comparable to the old 'PIRA' campaign, not least because of community support for the political process and the devolution of policing and justice," he said.

Scotland Gains Powers

The Scottish Parliament will get new powers under the Tory-Lib Dem coalition's programme for government. Yesterday's Queen's Speech included a pledge to implement the recommendations of the Calman review of devolution which includes new tax powers for Holyrood, as well as powers over drink-driving, speed limits and airguns. It is thought legislation to extend the new powers to Holyrood, contained in a Scotland Bill, may be launched in the autumn.

Couple's Death Probed

Police have revealed that two people have been found dead at their home in Dorset, with their deaths being classed as "unexplained". The man and woman, thought to be aged in their early 70s and mid-60s, were found in the semi-detached property in Magdalen Lane, Bridport, on Monday. Officers forced entry to the house and found the couple dead in an upstairs bedroom. The house has been sealed off while investigations continue.

Bail Out For Welsh Arts

A Welsh council has approved an £86,000 plan to rescue an arts centre, 15 months after it had a £3.5m facelift. The Scala in Prestatyn has a deficit of £84,000 and minutes from a Denbighshire council meeting show it is expected to lose £86,000 this financial year.

International Drugs Targeted

An international operation has been targeting organised crime and drugs. Irish people were arrested abroad and an arrest was also made in Dublin during simultaneous searches and arrests carried out in Spain by the Spanish National Police and by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) in the United Kingdom on Tuesday. The operation in Ireland involved 17 premises in the wider Dublin area and in Co Meath being searched. The arrested man is in his mid 20s and was arrested in the north inner city. He is currently being detained under the Criminal Justice Drug Trafficking Act. A Gardaí spokesman said yesterday morning that the operation entailed working closely with law enforcement colleagues in Spain, Belgium and the United Kingdom.

(BMcC/GK)