swimmer dies after collapsing just a mile away from France

staff reporter(wp/es):
A man attempting to cross the English Channel has died just a mile short of reaching France, organisers have said.
The cross-channel swimmer, named in reports as Nick Thomas, 45, from Ellesmere in Shropshire, was pulled unconscious from the water as he neared the end of the 21-mile endurance feat.
A spokesman for the governing body, the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation, confirmed a man had died.
He said: "A swimmer was taken from the water less than a mile from the finish in France.
"There was an extremely experienced support team on board the support vessel. He was given CPR and taken to Calais where he was sadly pronounced dead.
"It is an extreme sport, we know the risks. He was doing what he loved doing. Our thoughts are with his family."

M20 bridge collapse: motorway fully reopens to traffic after debris from footbridge is cleared

staff reporter(es/wp/es): 

The M20 has completely reopened to traffic more than 24 hours after a footbridge collapsed onto the carriageway.
The incident sparked hours of traffic chaos on one of the busiest weekends of the year, with queues impacting on London traffic.
Traffic can now use both carriageways of the M20 in Kent, Highways England said, after a stretch between junctions one and four was cleared following yesterday's accident, which saw the structure stuck by a digger being transported on the back of a lorry.
A precautionary 50mph limit is in place in both directions past the bridge.
The motorway reopened several hours later than planned.
 A motorcyclist in his 50s was taken to hospital in Tunbridge Wells with suspected broken ribs following the incident, while the driver of the lorry was treated for shock at the scene.

Catherine Brookes, of Highways England, said: "Safety is our top priority. While we concentrated on reopening the road as soon as possible to help drivers, it was imperative this was done safely.
"The 50mph speed limit is being introduced while until work to remove the rest of the footbridge is complete.
"We urge drivers to respect the limit for their safety and that of other road users, and thank them for their patience as we carried out this essential work."

Teen facing jailed after knifing two men during water fight violence

crime reporter(wp/es):
A teenager who stabbed two men with a hunting knife during last month's violence at Hyde Park is facing jail after admitting a string of offences.
Joshua Clements, 18, of Foxglove Street, Acton, appeared at the Old Bailey today, after he was snared when a police officer recognised his face.
On the evening of July 19, Clements attacked two 19-year-old men with a hunting knife in two separate incidents, causing both victims serious injuries. 
Clements attacked one of his victims inside Hyde Park, stabbing him in the abdomen, then knifed his the second victim in the chest and both arms in an assault that happened close to the park’s perimeter, beside Cumberland Gate.

Both men sustained serious injuries but are recovering well, police say.
Following the attacks, an investigation was launched by detectives from the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command.
Clements had attempted to disguise his identity by wearing a face mask covered in a camouflage pattern, but officers were able to trace his movements on CCTV.
Police circulated an image of Clements’ face without his mask on, and he was recognised by a police constable attached to a west London gangs unit.
Clements was arrested on 27 July and a weapon seized from his home was forensically linked to one of his crimes.
Today, the teenager admitted to two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, one count of carrying an offensive weapon, two counts of handling stolen goods and one count of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply.
Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Wall, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "Thousands of people had gathered in Hyde Park to enjoy one of the hottest days of the year but unfortunately amongst them were individuals determined to commit serious crimes.
“Clements is a violent individual who targeted two innocent people, thinking he could evade justice.
"His victims sustained very serious injuries and I am pleased that the overwhelming evidence against him has persuaded him to plead guilty to these offences."
Sentencing has been adjourned to a later date.

Rank still in the hunt for deals after William Hill rebuffs takeover bid

Business correspondent(es/wp):
Rank “still has the confidence” to look at major deals despite its aborted £3.4 billion joint bid with 888 for rival William Hill, its boss said today.
“I’m still surprised that William Hill did not want to engage with us,” said Henry Birch, who would have become chief executive of the bigger group if the three-way deal had come off.
“I was extremely surprised that they did not understand the rationale of the deal. But we’ve got the confidence to look at deals like this and we will continue to look at deals, particularly the larger ones which involve digital,” he said.
But when asked if a straight two-way merger with 888, which is strong in digital gaming, was on the cards, Birch declined to comment. The bid for Hills came and went in just nine days this month. Birch (pictured) said the costs were relatively low: “The bankers were on a no-deal, no-fee basis.

“It was a short, sharp affair in terms of the number of people involved and it did not distract from getting on with our business. Just myself and a handful of people missed our summer holidays.”
He asserted that Rank can equally well go it alone. “We are halfway through a two-year programme of investing in a business which historically was underinvested,” he said. “We are in a strong financial position with market-leading brands and have a clear strategy for long-term growth.”
Rank today reported a 4% rise in headline annual pre-tax profits at £77.4 million on revenues up just 2% at £753 million.
Profits were dented by the first full year of so-called remote gaming duty, which taxes punters wherever the online operator is based to the tune of £4.8 million, and the national living wage, which added £1.4 million to Rank’s payroll.
Mecca Bingo online saw a sharp fall in profits as it bore the brunt of the new tax and suffered some “stability issues” after it switched to a new technology platform.
The casinos division Grosvenor had a disappointing final quarter of the year to end-June with customer numbers down and the win margin lower. Birch said: “The Euros and uncertainty over the referendum hit the number of customer visits but that was the case across the casino sector. In July and August customer numbers are back up again.”
Birch said the Brexit decision would have little direct impact on Rank because it is so predominantly a UK-facing business. However, it could be hit by lower economic growth and any fall in consumer confidence.
The dividend for the year is raised by 16% to 6.5p a share and they responded with a 7.5p rise to 229p, their highest for two months.

Family of man 'hunted down' and stabbed to death by mob urge witnesses to break silence

crime reporter(wp/es):
The family of a man “hunted down” and stabbed to death after an argument at a boxing match today urged witnesses to break their silence and help get justice for his young daughters.
Luther Edwards, 32, was set upon by a group of at least 15 men as he left York Hall in Bethnal Green. He was stabbed in the chest and left to die on a petrol station forecourt.
The attack took place in front of his sister Naresa Edwards and the mother of his 12-year-old daughter, who were both kicked and punched as they tried to shield him from the knife blows.
Ms Edwards, who held her brother in her arms as he fought for life, today spoke for the first time about the murder to beg for help to catch his killers, four weeks after the attack.
Police arrested and bailed three men in connection with the murder on July 29 but no one has been charged.

Ms Edwards told the Standard: “My brother was my world. He was a good, caring man who loved his two daughters with all his heart — now they will grow up without a father.
“We had the first birthday party for his youngest daughter on Saturday. It should have been happy but it was sad. We want justice for his daughters, for his family and for him.
“He was an innocent man out with his sister and the mother of his daughters when he was attacked.
“We believe people filmed the attack on him and filmed inside the boxing match and we’d ask people to go to the police with those images as they could be what helps to catch those responsible. We are frightened his killers are still walking the streets.”
 His family said today the murder followed an argument at the bar in the boxing venue between Mr Edwards and a stranger which they believed had been resolved.
Mr Edwards, who they said had nothing to do with gangs, had taken his sister and former partner to the venue in Old Ford Road to watch a friend box.
Some 45 minutes later, at about 10.35pm, he was attacked by a group of “ethnically diverse, heavy-set men” as he left the building after the final bout.
The family believe the group had also left the hall after watching the final fight. Despite paramedics’ efforts to save Mr Edwards, he was pronounced dead at around 11.40pm.

The former Lambeth College student, who lived in Clapham and grew up in Stockwell, worked as a HGV driver to provide for his daughters, Nylah, one, and Aaliyah, 12, who has cerebral palsy.
His family said: “A simple argument at a boxing match should not lead  to death, should not lead to a good man being hunted down by a mob, killed in the street and leaving his  family feeling broken. We are bereft, we are grief-stricken and we demand justice for Luther, for those whom  he left behind and for those who  loved him.”
A 31-year-old man was arrested six days after the attack, and two other men aged 23 and 26 were arrested in subsequent days. All have now been bailed until September.

Amazon announces 1,500 jobs by opening a major new warehouse in Essex

Business correspondent(wp/es):
Amazon has announced it will create 1,500 jobs by opening a major new warehouse in Essex.
Located in the dock area of Thurrock town Tilbury, the "fulfilment centre" will become the retailer’s 13th in the UK.
It will be fitted with robotic arms which carry products to and fro staff.
The announcement comes after a spike in online shopping, with UK shoppers spending 16.7 per cent more online this July compared to last year and 1.2 per cent more than this June.
 
Ian Geddes, UK head of retail at Deloitte, said: "The online market now accounts for 14.2 per cent of all retail sales, 1.6 percentage points more than 12 months ago.
"Not only does this indicate a step up in online spending, but retailers also appear to be on the right path when it comes to engaging with the online consumer."
Tilbury, due to open in 2017, will require operations managers, engineers, HR and IT workers and Amazon said it is currently scouting for the positions.
This year alone, the online giant will create 3,500 positions

Person struck by train at east London Tube stop

staff correspondent(es/wp):
A person has been struck by a train at Mile End station.
Emergency services including police, fire and ambulance crews were called shortly before 1pm to reports of someone on the tracks.
A British Transport Police spokesman confirmed a person was hit by a train but no further details were immediately available.
Pictures taken from the scene show a funeral van outside the station.

The station reopened just after 2pm.
Transport for London warned travellers of severe delays on the Central line following the reopening.

The delays have affected West Ham supporters travelling to Stratford for the club’s first home game at the Olympic Stadium against Bournemouth.
The club retweeted an update from the Central line Twitter feed and added: “Important info if you are travelling to the game via the @centralline