Attempts to extradite the jailed radical cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri to America on terrorism charges have been put back after he renewed his appeal against conviction in Britain.
Abu Hamza, 48, appeared by video link at Bow Street Magistrates’ Court. His case was adjourned until July 19.
Lawyers for the US and Abu Hamza made a joint application to put back the extradition case for 28 days while his appeal is heard.
Abu Hamza was jailed for seven years in February for soliciting murder and inciting racial hatred. Charges in the US would include giving support to al-Qaeda.
Murder remand
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A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Michael Chapman, 16, on a playing field at Gore Court Cricket Club in Sittingbourne, Kent, on Friday. Lee Cowie, 18, of Sittingbourne, was remanded in custody by the town’s magistrates. He will appear before Maidstone Crown Court on July 3.
Drug cash boost
An extra £95.2 million is being provided to help to get people off drugs and into treatment, Caroline Flint, the Public Health Minister, said. Drug treatment services will get £394.6 million this year, more than 30 per cent up on last year. More than £370 million will go on paying staff and other service costs.
Tout fined £9,000
A ticket tout was fined £9,000, with £8,780 costs, by Marylebone Magistrates’ Court after he was caught charging a 500 per cent mark-up on West End theatre seats. Clive Moss, 51, of West London, who was trading as Albany Tickets from the doorway of Leicester Square nightclub, admitted six charges.
Darwin’s letter
A six-page letter from Charles Darwin to the Rev William Denton explaining aspects of his theory of evolution is expected to fetch up to £30,000 at Sotheby’s. In the letter, dated October 15, 1860, the naturalist says that he is “far from surprised” that not everyone accepts his controversial conclusions.
Pregnant sex slaves are found
Girls brought to Britain as sex slaves have been found on the streets, discarded because they were pregnant, police said. A dozen girls, aged from 14 to 17 and mainly from countries such as Sierra Leone and Ghana, were discovered during a national drive against human trafficking named Operation Pentameter. About half were pregnant. Police estimate that there are at least 8,000 girls working in brothels in Britain against their will.
Swastika in House
Vandals have carved Nazi swastikas into wooden panels at the House of Commons. The authorities said the symbols, found in two lifts, would be cleaned off as quickly as possible. One lift is used for ambassadors’ receptions. MPs use the other lift to reach the Committee Corridor.
Bird-ringers safe
Seven bird-ringers stranded for two days without food and water on the island of Dun, in the St Kilda archipelago over 100 miles off the west of Scotland, were airlifted to safety. All seven, whose tent was blown down by gales, were safe and well but cold, tired and hungry and “very happy” to be back on St Kilda.
Services revamp
Charities and companies will take over the delivery of equipment such as fire alarms and wheelchairs for disabled and older people, in a revamp of community equipment services to be announced today. It is part of a drive for closer co-operation between the Government and the voluntary and private sectors.
Shoot-out arrests
Police who pulled over a car in South London found it was being driven by a 13-year-old boy. They then found a fresh bullet hole in the bodywork that linked it to a gangland shoot-out earlier on Friday evening. The 13-year-old and a 16-year-old passenger were arrested. A third suspect ran off when the car was stopped.
Fake murder
An aspiring model who faked her own kidnap and murder has escaped jail. Rebecca Campion, 20, prompted a £25,000 police hunt when she pretended that she had been abducted to attract attention. A six-month sentence for wasting police time was suspended for 18 months by Liverpool magistrates.
Lotto cash choice
People who play the National Lottery are to be given a say on the allocation of grants under a pilot scheme designed to restore public confidence in the game. Tessa Jowell, the Culture Secretary, said that players would be asked to vote for their favourite local causes when they bought tickets in two trial areas.
Gates gives £7m to British study
A British university has been given £7.3 million by Bill Gates, the chairman of Microsoft, to help to combat malaria.
The Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, part of the University of York’s biology department, has been working on a fast-track breeding programme for the herb Sweet Annie (Artemisia annua), which is the only source of the leading anti-malarial drug artemisinin.
Birthday Prince
Prince William celebrated his 24th birthday yesterday, but it was business as usual.
He is enrolled as an officer cadet at Sandhurst and was expected to spend the day on normal duties. It was not known if the Prince had plans to celebrate with Kate Middleton, 24, his long-term girlfriend.
Peace activist dies
Monsignor Denis Faul, the human rights activist, has died of cancer in Dublin, aged 74. The Roman Catholic priest was a leading light in attempts to end the Northern Ireland Troubles and also campaigned for the release of the Birmingham Six and the Guildford Four.
Big Brother inquiry
Nestlé is being investigated by the Advertising Standards Authority over claims that its golden ticket Big Brother promotion in Kit Kats was rigged after Susie Verrico, 43, a model, was chosen. Channel 4 said before the draw that it would select ticket winners to be considered. Nestlé said it did not know of an inquiry.
Sex crime failings
Just under 1,000 sex offenders were caught breaking the terms on which they were placed on the sex offenders register in 2004-05, the Home Office said, out of 28,994 on the register. The rate of cautioning or conviction for breaches fell from 3.6 per cent of those registered in 2001-02 to 3.4 per cent in 2004-05.
Clay stars tribute
Wallace and Gromit are to be honoured with a statue in their home town of Bristol to celebrate the clay stars and their creators, Aardman Animations. The first Wallace and Gromit film, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, won an Oscar for best animated feature film at this year’s Academy Awards.
Doherty book deal
Pete Doherty, the drug-taking Babyshambles singer, has signed a book deal to publish his diaries next March. One hardback book will contain 20 volumes of poems, drawings, lyrics and personal reflections. Doherty, 27, failed to turn up at a North London pub to give a poetry reading for the project’s launch.
