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2018 National & International News Stories.

A place to post any interesting news topics
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Re: 2018 National & International News Stories.

Post by boatbuilder » Wed Feb 07, 2018 10:04 pm

Latest post of the previous page:

Let's face it, can you honestly say WHO is telling the truth and WHO is lying?

As I see things at the moment, the whole issue of leaving the EU has turned out more complicated than anyone ever envisaged when they put their cross on the ballot paper. The joining was complex enough and no doubt the leaving will be even more so.
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Re: 2018 National & International News Stories.

Post by Trigger » Thu Feb 08, 2018 7:11 pm

National Audit Office asked to look into Motability

Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey has asked the National Audit Office to look into the finances and pay policy of the Motability charity.
It follows reports it has £2.4bn in reserves and pays its boss £1.7m.
The charity denies having built up "spare" money and says it has provided 4.5m vehicles to disabled people and their families since its 1977 launch.
Labour's John Mann, who raised the matter in the Commons, called the cash reserves and pay figures "grotesque".
He said there needed to be an "urgent review" into "this registered charity, which is funded by a direct grant by the taxpayer through the government".
Ms McVey, answering Mr Mann's urgent question in the House of Commons, told MPs: "Motability was originally set up 40 years ago with cross-party support. It has done much good in that time.
"But come today, anybody looking at the size of the reserves and pay packages would question the direction Motability has taken in allowing this to happen.
"And with the current focus on corporate governance issues and the use of public money, I have today asked the National Audit Office to give consideration to undertake an investigation into this matter."
After the initial report in the Daily Mail earlier this week, Motability issued a statement denying having a "spare" £2.4bn, saying that the money is not held as cash but is used to buy cars.
"This reduces the amount of borrowing required... underpins the scheme's financial stability, protecting it from the business risks it faces, particularly in relation to used car values," it said in the statement.
On chief executive Mike Betts' pay, the charity said it was "reviewed against the market to ensure that it is both competitive over the long term and to ensure that any rewards are related to performance especially in relation to the quality of service provided".
The statement said Motability had an annual turnover of £4.2bn, manages a fleet of vehicles worth £6.5bn and buys and sells 200,000 cars each year.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42978997
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Re: 2018 National & International News Stories.

Post by boatbuilder » Fri Feb 09, 2018 5:57 pm

#MeToo California assemblywoman accused of groping

A California state assemblywoman who rose to national prominence as a campaigner against sexual assault is now herself accused of misconduct.
The state legislature is investigating Democrat Cristina Garcia, who was featured in a Time magazine profile of #MeToo victims last year.
Ms Garcia is accused of groping another lawmaker's male aide after an annual legislative softball game in 2014.
She says she has "zero recollection of engaging in inappropriate behaviour".
In a statement, the influential Los Angeles-area lawmaker added that "such behaviour is inconsistent with my values".
"Every complaint about sexual harassment should be taken seriously and I will participate fully in any investigation that takes place," said Ms Garcia, who was elected in 2012 and chairs the Legislative Women's Caucus and the Natural Resources Committee.
The accusation comes from Daniel Fierro, who said a drunken Ms Garcia cornered him in the team dugout when he was 25 years old.
He said Ms Garcia stroked his back, squeezed his buttocks and attempted to grab his crotch.
Mr Fierro told Politico he did not originally report the incident.
He is not the only man accusing Ms Garcia of unwanted sexual advances.
Another accuser, whom Politico described as a prominent lobbyist at California's state capital, claims the lawmaker tried to fondle him at a fundraiser last year.
The man, who wished to remain anonymous because he represents a major industry association, said Ms Garcia had leaned in close enough to him that he could smell alcohol on her breath.
She whispered that she had "set a goal" for herself to have sex with him and used a vulgarity, he said.

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So it works both ways!
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Re: 2018 National & International News Stories.

Post by Trigger » Sun Feb 11, 2018 11:06 am

Grand Canyon helicopter crash kills three

A tourist helicopter has crashed in the Grand Canyon in the US state of Arizona, killing three people and injuring at least four.
The aircraft suffered "substantial damage", a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Authority said.
It was in the Grand Canyon West area when it came down at around 17:20 local time (00:20 GMT) on Saturday.
It is not yet clear what caused the crash, or which company operated the helicopter.
Local media said the helicopter was an Airbus Eurocopter EC130.
The Grand Canyon, which is more than 1.6km (one mile) deep, is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the US.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43022040
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Re: 2018 National & International News Stories.

Post by boatbuilder » Sun Feb 11, 2018 1:14 pm

Russian jet 'crashes' after Moscow take-off

A Russian airliner carrying 71 passengers and crew has crashed after vanishing from radar screens as it left a Moscow airport for the Urals, media say.
The Saratov Airlines An-148 regional jet was en route to the city of Orsk when it went missing.
An emergency services source has told Interfax news agency the plane crashed and there was "no chance" of survivors.
It reportedly fell near Argunovo, about 80km (50 miles) south-east of Moscow.
According to another news agency, the jet vanished from radar screens two minutes after it left Domodedovo Airport.

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Re: 2018 National & International News Stories.

Post by Trigger » Wed Feb 14, 2018 10:50 am

Heathrow airport latest: Passengers removed from plane after 'serious accident' on airfield

One man is in hospital and another was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police say
Heathrow Airport officials say a ”serious accident” has taken place involving two vehicles on the airfield at Terminal 5.
In a statement, the airport said it was “working closely with the emergency services and updates will follow”.
At least one plane is understood to have returned to its gate and passengers were removed.
The crash involved two airside vehicles.
“The airfield remains open and we will work to minimise disruption to our passengers’ journeys”, a Heathrow spokeswoman said.
The London Ambulance Service and Metropolitan Police confirmed they had been called.
London Fire Brigade said it had released two people who were trapped in the vehicles following the crash.
A Met spokesman said officers were called shortly after 6am after the crash on a taxiway.
Full article: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 09701.html
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Re: 2018 National & International News Stories.

Post by boatbuilder » Wed Feb 14, 2018 11:29 pm

Florida shooting: Suspect identified in deadly high school attack

The suspect accused of committing a deadly shooting at a local high school in Parkland, Florida, has been named by US media.
Nicolas Cruz, 19, was named in various media reports. Police previously said that Cruz had been a former student.
Officials have warned that the scene at Stoneman Douglas High School "is still active".
School superintendent Robert Runcie told reporters: "there are fatalities involved here."
Both Mr Runcie and the Sherriff, Scott Israel, said the suspect is a former student of the school.
"So far we have at least 14 victims," the Sherriff's department said, without specifying their condition.
US media outlets reported that up to 20 people may have been injured, while some have been evacuated.
A local Fox news affiliate reported seeing several people being treated for injuries outside the school.
Meanwhile, Florida Senator Bill Nelson told Fox News there were "many deaths", citing conversations with the school superintendent, the FBI, and the undersheriff.
The local public school district tweeted: "Today, close to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School's dismissal, students and staff heard what sounded like gunfire."
"The school immediately went on lockdown but is now dismissing students. We are receiving reports of possible multiple injuries," it said.
Police were clearing students from the school "one building at a time", the school said.

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Re: 2018 National & International News Stories.

Post by Trigger » Thu Feb 15, 2018 7:42 am

Thousands of crimes going unrecorded by three police forces

Three English police forces are failing to record thousands of reported crimes each year, new reports have found.
Both Thames Valley Police and North Yorkshire Police are only noting 80% of crimes reported.
Durham Constabulary fares better, but still failed to record 8.5% of crimes reported to it.
All three forces accept Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS)'s findings and say they are addressing concerns.
Three separate reports by HMICFRS have been published, with the one into Thames Valley showing 35,000 crimes a year go unrecorded.
HMICFRS, which says too many victims are being let down by the force, found in particular that Thames Valley was under-recording violent crimes, rape and domestic abuse.
Deputy Chief Constable John Campbell said the report made for "unwelcome reading".
Full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-43060030
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Re: 2018 National & International News Stories.

Post by boatbuilder » Sat Feb 17, 2018 12:14 am

Breaking News at 00:07 am (GMT)

Strong earthquake hits southern Mexico

A powerful earthquake has hit south-western Mexico, causing buildings to shake in the capital Mexico City, about 350km (217 miles) away.
The epicentre of the 7.2-magnitude tremor was near the town of Pinotepa de Don Luis in the Oaxaca state, the US Geological Survey said.
It said the quake was 24.6km underground.
There was no immediate information about casualties or the extent of damage caused.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that there was no tsunami threat.

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Re: 2018 National & International News Stories.

Post by boatbuilder » Sat Feb 17, 2018 4:56 pm

It seems strange that I post successively about earthquakes. This one much nearer to home:

Earthquake felt across parts of UK

A minor earthquake with a 4.4 magnitude has affected parts of Wales and England.
The quake was felt over all of Wales, most of western England, as far east as London and as far north as the southern edge of the Lake District, the British Geological Survey (BGS) said.
The epicentre was approximately 20km north-north-east of Swansea and at a depth of 7.4km, it added.
There have been no reports of serious damage or injuries.
Events of this magnitude happen in the UK every three to five years, the BGS said.
Roger Musson, from the BGS, said it was the largest earthquake in Britain for the last 10 years..
He said it was "relatively shallow" for a larger British earthquake; they are usually around 15-20km deep.



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Re: 2018 National & International News Stories.

Post by Trigger » Sun Feb 18, 2018 7:31 am

MPs call for boy with epilepsy to be given medical cannabis licence

MPs have called on the Home Office to issue a medical cannabis licence to a boy whose rare form of epilepsy improved after taking the drug.
Six-year-old Alfie Dingley, from Kenilworth in Warwickshire, suffers up to 30 violent seizures a day.
His parents want to treat him with medical cannabis oil, which is illegal in the UK.
In September, Alfie went to the Netherlands to take a cannabis-based medication.
The medication, which was prescribed by a paediatric neurologist, saw his seizures reduce in number, duration and severity.
Members of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on drug policy reform have now called on the Home Secretary Amber Rudd to issue a licence for Alfie to continue taking the medication, which he is currently not permitted to have in the UK.
Alfie's grandmother Maggie said the treatment in the Netherlands meant "Alfie has gone from a death sentence to the prospect of a more normal life with school, friends and fun, in his own familiar home".
"We want the people who have the power to give him this gift to put themselves in the position of Alfie's family, to think creatively and with open minds and to find a way forward," she added.
"Above all we want compassion to find a way round inflexible rules."
Full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-co ... e-43101716

NB: The last sentence of that article is: “The Home Office told the Daily Mail it would not issue a licence for the personal consumption of a 'Schedule 1 drug' such as cannabis.”
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Re: 2018 National & International News Stories.

Post by muzzy » Sun Feb 18, 2018 10:21 pm

Interesting is the exact wording used, in its original form. It is therefore possible they are considering licensing cannaboid oil, which is a derivative of cannabis but without THC, the part that makes it addictive.

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Re: 2018 National & International News Stories.

Post by boatbuilder » Sun Feb 18, 2018 10:55 pm

Cannabis is already licensed for use as a treatment for MS in a drug called 'Sativex'. Before it was 'approved' my wife used to use it on a trial basis under guidance from the pain clinic at JPH (although not for MS) about 10 years ago and had to receive written approval from the Home Office. More information about it here: Sativex
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Re: 2018 National & International News Stories.

Post by boatbuilder » Mon Feb 19, 2018 2:02 am

'Move your van' note left on ambulance in Tunstall

A woman left an abusive note on an ambulance dealing with a 999 call, ordering paramedics to "move their van".
The writer said she did not care if "the whole street collapsed" and the crew had "no right to be parked here".
The hand-written message was left on an ambulance in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, earlier.
Operational manager Mike Duggan said the paramedics also received verbal abuse.
He shared an image of the note on Twitter saying he was "very angry".
Paramedic Katie Tudor tweeted Staffordshire Police asking: "Is there anything that can be done about this? It's becoming a regular occurrence."
Ch Insp John Owen replied: "Officers are in the process of speaking to our @OFFICIALWMAS colleagues to obtain the full details from the crews at the scene."
The note concluded with the words "now move your van from outside my house".
One Twitter user replied: "They probably had to write 'van' because they were unable to spell ambulance. Hope they're visited by Staffs Police and prosecuted."
Mr Duggan told the BBC he thinks people who abuse emergency staff need to be dealt with more "robustly".
He said: "What is it going to take? Is one of us going to have to die before they take it seriously?"
West Midlands Ambulance Service's Hazardous Area Response Team also blasted the note.
The team tweeted: "Unfortunately this appears to be acceptable behaviour in some small minded people's minds these days #sadtimes."

BBC News Story

One morning a few weeks ago I noticed two paramedic vehicles, an ambulance and a police car parked in the small cul-de-sac almost opposite my house as it seemed someone had sadly passed away as a private ambulance was later in attendance for obvious reasons. I would have been mortified had such an occurrence, as in this report, taken place then.
I do hope the authorities are able to deal with the offender in this incident accordingly. They should be utterly ashamed of themselves.
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Re: 2018 National & International News Stories.

Post by boatbuilder » Mon Feb 19, 2018 11:13 am

I'm pleased to see that a 26 year old woman has been arrested by Staffordshire Police in connection with the previous post.

Woman arrested over move your van note on ambulance
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Re: 2018 National & International News Stories.

Post by Trigger » Mon Feb 19, 2018 11:49 am

boatbuilder wrote:I'm pleased to see that a 26 year old woman has been arrested by Staffordshire Police in connection with the previous post.
Very good news!
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