Reopen Madeleine case, police urge

Scotland Yard has urged Portuguese authorities to reopen the search for Madeleine McCann as detectives said there are 195 potential leads to finding her alive. The detective leading the Metropolitan Police review said the case can still be solved before officers released a picture of what she might now look like as a nine-year-old. Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood said he believes her disappearance was a stranger abduction, as he said there are 195 "investigative opportunities". Police refused to say what evidence they had uncovered to suggest Madeleine is alive. Mr Redwood confirmed that his team of more than 30 officers involved in the case had been out to Portugal seven times, including a visit to the family's holiday flat in Praia da Luz. It will be five years ago next week since...

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Insecure websites to be named and shamed after checks

Companies that do not do enough to keep their websites secure are to be named and shamed to help improve security. The list of good and bad sites will be published regularly by the non-profit Trustworthy Internet Movement (TIM). A survey carried out to launch the group found that more than 52% of sites tested were using versions of security protocols known to be compromised. The group will test websites to see how well they have implemented basic security software. Security fundamentals The group has been set up by security experts and entrepreneurs frustrated by the slow pace of improvements in online safety. "We want to stimulate some initiatives and get something done," said TIM's founder Philippe Courtot, serial entrepreneur and chief executive of security firm Qualys. He has bankrolled...

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Anti-depressants likely do more harm than good, study suggests

Commonly prescribed anti-depressants appear to be doing patients more harm than good, say researchers who have published a paper examining the impact of the medications on the entire body. See Also: Health & Medicine Pharmacology Birth Defects Mental Health Research Mind & Brain Depression Disorders and Syndromes Psychiatry Reference COX-2 inhibitor Psychoactive drug Seasonal affective disorder Anti-obesity drug "We need to be much more cautious about the widespread use of these drugs," says Paul Andrews, an evolutionary biologist at McMaster University and lead author of the article, published recently in the online journal Frontiers in Psychology. "It's important because millions of people are prescribed anti-depressants each year, and the conventional wisdom about these drugs is...

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Madeleine McCann, the British girl who went missing while on holiday in Portugal half a decade ago, could still be alive, Scotland Yard said on Wednesday.

Madeleine McCann as she might look aged 9  Photo: Teri BlytheDetectives released a new “age progression” image of the toddler, which they said showed what she would look like today at the age of nine.On Wednesday, Britain’s biggest police force said that as a result of evidence uncovered during a review “they now believe there is a possibility Madeleine is still alive”.Officers have so far identified nearly 200 new items for investigation within historic material and are also “developing what they believe to be genuinely new material”.Scotland Yard urged Portuguese authorities to reopen the search for her amid the new "investigative...

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Dengue Fever Asian Mosquito Could Invade UK

The mosquito can carry dengue and chikungunya viruses A mosquito that spreads tropical diseases including dengue fever may be poised to invade the UK because of climate change.The Asian tiger mosquito has already been reported in France and Belgium and could be migrating north as winters become warmer and wetter.Scientists have urged "wide surveillance" for the biting insect across countries of central and northern Europe, including the UK.The mosquito can carry dengue and chikungunya viruses, both of which cause high fevers. The infections usually occur in tropical regions of Africa, Asia and South America.Scientists led by Dr Samantha...

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Spain and Britain work to defuse the row over fishing.

Underlying tensions were evident at sea yesterday, despite the uneasy truce that is holding while Gibraltar, Spain and Britain work to defuse the row over fishing. A Spanish conchero was at the centre of a brief morning standoff with vessels from the Royal Gibraltar Police when it started fishing in the area known as the boquete de poniente.   The fishing boat was using rakes to scrape the bottom for shellfish, a technique that is illegal under Gibraltar nature laws. Its crew was fishing on the very edge of Gibraltar’s territorial waters in that area and, when asked to move by the RGP, initially refused. The fishermen insisted they were in Spanish waters and it took over an hour to convince them to move on. A Guardia Civil vessel was also at the scene monitoring the exchanges, but...

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Gibraltar Unhappy With UK Gambling Plans

Plans by the UK Government to tax online gambling operators based on the "Point of Consumption" is concerning the Gibraltar Government. Online gambling operators have been attracted Gibraltar in order to benefit from the minimal taxation structure. The gaming industry provides significant income and around 2200 directly as well as an additional 3000 positions in financial services. According to local reports in Gibraltar, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, has told the UK Government of the liability it would face if one of Gibraltar 's key income streams is slashed. The Gibraltar's gaming industry with the backing of the goverment are taking steps that may include legal action in a bid to protect Gibraltar 's gaming industry. Maria Brennan of HM Treasury has reportedly attended discussions...

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75-year Gibraltarian man was arrested in Marbella

A 75-year Gibraltarian man was arrested in Marbella in connection with a Portuguese investigation into drug trafficking, according to reports in the Spanish media. The arrest on March 22 was carried out by officers of the Policia Nacional Drugs and Organised Crime Unit acting on a European arrest warrant issued by Portuguese authorities. The man was identified only by his initials, M.P. It is not clear whether he remains under arrest in Spain or whether he has been transferred to Portugal, or indeed releas...

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