2018 National & International News Stories.

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Latest post of the previous page:

Rupert Murdoch's Sky bid challenged by Comcast

US cable TV giant Comcast has made a £22.1bn takeover bid for Sky, challenging an existing offer from 21st Century Fox.
Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox had already agreed an £18.5bn deal to buy the 61% of Sky it does not already own.
Comcast said its bid of £12.50 per share was a 16% higher than the 21st Century Fox offer.
Comcast is the biggest US cable TV firm. It also owns the broadcast TV network NBC and Universal Pictures.
The company's chief executive Brian Roberts, said: "We would like to own the whole of Sky and we will be looking to acquire over 50% of the Sky shares," he said.
Mr Roberts added that the UK "is and will remain a great place to do business" and that Comcast wanted to "use Sky as a platform for our growth in Europe".
Full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43209100

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Toys R Us and Maplin face collapse with 5,500 jobs at risk

Toys R Us in the UK and electronics chain Maplin are on the brink of collapse, putting 5,500 jobs at risk.
The struggling retailers - two of the UK's best known chains - are understood to have put administrators on standby after failing to secure a rescue deal.
Maplin - owned by Rutland Partners - had put the business up for sale, but talks with a potential buyer are understood to have broken down.
Toys R Us was also seeking a possible sale but has failed to secure a buyer.
Maplin has 200 stores and 2,500 staff in the UK, while Toys R Us employs about 3,000 workers in its 106 stores.
Full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43219651

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Both now in administration.

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Fury as ambulance rushing unconscious teenager to hospital fined for using bus lane

West Midlands Ambulance Service is being fined up to £900-a-day for using a bus lane near a Birmingham hospital in a bid to ensure speedy treatment for patients.
In one case, the service said it received a penalty charge after paramedics with blue lights flashing used the lane as they rushed to help an unconscious teenager.
The 999 service said it was receiving up to 15, £60 fines a day for using the lane on the B4128 Bordesley Green, near Heartlands Hospital in Bordesley Green.
While the fines – reduced to £30 if paid within a fortnight – are being cancelled for blue light jobs, the cash-strapped service is still forking out a fortune.
The West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust condemned the fines, issued by Birmingham City Council, and said it had not been consulted over the introduction of bus lane cameras used to ensure compliance.
It had two choices: either accept the penalties or appeal, using money which could be spent on patient care, the Trust added.Council chiefs said they were aware of “issues” and were working with the ambulance service to address them.
“The Trust is extremely disappointed that ambulances travelling on blue lights have been receiving fines for using a bus lane near to a major Birmingham Hospital,” said an ambulance service spokesman.
“The Trust is now receiving between ten and 15 penalty notices a day for vehicles using a bus lane near to Heartlands Hospital.
“This includes a case where a paramedic officer using blue lights was en-route to an unconscious 16-year-old girl with breathing difficulties.
“The Trust has also recently started to receive a significant number of fines for its patient transport vehicles taking critically-unwell patients into hospital for time-sensitive treatment.
“They have become stuck in traffic and have used the lane to ensure the patient receives the care that they need.
“This does not seem morally right when a patient with a minor injury using a Hackney Carriage taxi would be perfectly at liberty to use the bus lane.
“It has become apparent that the council consulted the Fire and Police Services prior to the introduction of the cameras.
“But rather than suspend the fines while discussions take place to try to find a solution, money will continue to be wasted fighting the fines when it could have been spent on patient care.”
The row broke out after a tweet emerged on social media criticising the council for fining th ambulance service, together with a picture of numerous penalty notices.
The ambulance spokesman added: “In cases where we are able to prove the vehicle was responding on blue lights and sirens, fines are being cancelled.
“But there are numerous fines that are still having to be paid, including those involving our PTS (patient transport service) vehicles when all the staff were trying to do is deliver good patient care.”
But the council remained unrepentant and said the policy would continue.
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Sir Roger Bannister: First person to run a mile in under four minutes dies at 88

Sir Roger Bannister, the first person to run a mile in under four minutes, has died at the age of 88.
His time of three minutes 59.4 seconds, set at Iffley Road sports ground in Oxford on 6 May 1954, stood as a record for just 46 days but his place in athletics history was assured.
Bannister also won gold over the same distance at the 1954 Commonwealth Games and later became a leading neurologist.
He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2011.
A statement from his family said: "Sir Roger Bannister, died peacefully in Oxford on 3 March, aged 88, surrounded by his family who were as loved by him, as he was loved by them. He banked his treasure in the hearts of his friends."
Full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/43273249

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Supermarket shoppers post photos of empty shelves

Shoppers have been posting photos of empty supermarket shelves on social media after the wintry weather led to shortages across the country.
Retailers say they are experiencing localised disruption because supplies could not be delivered in the snow.
Supermarkets also say they are experiencing high demand as people stock up after not being able to shop.
Most photos show bread, milk and eggs shortages, although other absent items include fruit, vegetables and meat.
The south west of England appears to have been particularly badly affected, and there are warnings nationally of a short-term hit to economic growth.
Rae Rae, from Exmouth, Devon, who posted these photos, didn't have much luck buying supplies in her local supermarket.
Elsewhere in Devon, Sara Raine says it appears Plymouth has "run out of bread and milk".

Full story with many images

I was planning to do my weekly shop tomorrow as I just topped up with a few items on Friday. It's not urgent so I may leave it for another day rather than waste a journey to find many items may not be on the shelves. The local Coop had fairly empty shelves when I went there Friday night.

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Hundreds of foreign criminals including rapists and violent offenders are on the run

Hundreds of foreign criminals including rapists and violent offenders are on the run after the Government took too long to deport them, new figures suggest.
In just over two years immigration authorities lost track of nearly 500 overseas nationals who were facing removal from the UK after serving prison sentences for their crimes.
They had all been released into the community whilst their removal was organised, and would have been required to report to the Home Office at set times and can be subject to bail conditions and electronic monitoring.
Data obtained following a Freedom of Information request show a total of 494 foreign national offenders (FNOs) "absconded" while they were subject to deportation action from 2014 to the end of March 2016.
Many were later located but, as of last month, the whereabouts of more than 200 were still unknown - up to four years after contact with officials first ceased.
Full article: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/0 ... offenders/

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Chinook to fly supplies to cut-off Cumbrian communities

The RAF has been called in to fly food and supplies to areas in Cumbria cut off by huge snow drifts.
Cumbria County Council said a Chinook helicopter would be flying aid to snowed-in communities in Fellside, South Stainmore and Alston.
Supplies include food, coal, logs and electrical heating appliances.
County council leader Stewart Young said some communities had not been able to be reached by road for at least five days.
"We have to do all we can to ensure that they are safe and well," he said.
"Despite our very best efforts, and our crews working day and night, we are experiencing ongoing significant challenges in accessing some of our communities.
"The depth of snow and the challenging nature of the terrain is making progress on clearing roads exceptionally slow.
"As a result it is estimated it will be at least 48 hours before we reach many more of these communities, hence the need to bring in military assistance and we are very grateful for their help."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-43285331

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Two critical after Salisbury substance 'exposure'

Two people are in a critical condition after being exposed to an "unknown substance".
Wiltshire Police were called on Sunday afternoon to help a man and a woman in Salisbury who were subsequently taken to the city's district hospital.
A number of locations in the city centre have been cordoned off and the A&E department at the hospital was closed on Monday morning.
Public Health England (PHE) said there was no "wider risk".
A major incident has been declared at Salisbury District Hospital but neither police or the hospital have commented further.
A spokesman said: "PHE understands that those exposed to the substances have been decontaminated, as is standard practice in situations like this.
"Scientists from PHE's Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards will continue to assist the response and review information as it becomes available."
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service was called to the hospital's A&E department on Monday to help with the decontamination.
Routine appointments are going ahead as scheduled unless patients have been contacted directly and staff have been told to come in as normal, the PHE spokesman added.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-43289194

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Same subject from Sky News claims that one of them was a former Russian spy. Brings back memories of the fuss over Alexander Litkovsic (?) and the poisoned tea.

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Alexander Litvinenko, I believe.

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Five patients made 8,303 emergency calls in a year

Ambulances and emergency response vehicles were deployed more than 1,500 times to five patients in 12 months, the BBC has learned.
A total of 8,303 emergency calls were made by the five most frequent UK callers.
An NHS spokesman said the calls were often related to mental health, chronic pain and alcohol or drug dependence.
Vicki Nash from mental health charity Mind said the figures show that individuals' needs were not being met.
The figures were released after a Freedom of Information request to the UK's 14 ambulance trusts.
The highest number of calls by a single patient were made to London's ambulance service, which was contacted 3,594 times.
Other services to receive frequent calls include East Midlands Ambulance service, which was called 1,244 times by a single patient, and South West Ambulance service, which received 1,044 calls from one person.

Full report

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Parking and bus lane fine appeals win four times out of 10

Almost half of drivers who challenged parking and bus lane fines issued by local authorities were successful, figures obtained by the BBC suggest.
Four out of 10 appeals to hundreds of councils across the UK over five years led to fines being cancelled.
Motoring group the RAC said the data was "frightening" and showed drivers were "right to appeal."
The Local Government Association said the figures proved councils had an "effective" appeal process.
Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act revealed that out of almost 4.3 million appeals, 1.8 million succeeded.
They show 84 councils accepted more than half of challenges.
Councils say that fines are not about making money and that income from on-street parking charges and fines goes back into running parking services, with any surplus spent on transport projects.
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42557198

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Comedy legend Sir Ken Dodd dies, aged 90

Sir Ken Dodd, creator of the Diddy Men and one of the most popular comedians of his time, has died aged 90.
The Liverpool legend had recently been released from hospital after six weeks of treatment for a chest infection.
On Friday, he had married Anne Jones, his partner of 40 years, at their house, the same one he grew up in, in the Liverpool suburb of Knotty Ash.
"To my mind, he was one of the last music hall greats," his publicist, Robert Holmes, said.
Sir Ken was famous for his very long stand-up shows - with which he was touring until last year - along with his Diddy Men and the tickling stick.
"He passed away in the home that he was born in over 90 years ago. He's never lived anywhere else. It's absolutely amazing," added Mr Holmes.
Full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-43367267

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Very sad to hear of Ken Dodd's passing. RIP Ken, or maybe under the circumstances he would prefer 'Rest In Happiness'.

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Teenager jailed for London moped acid attacks

A 17-year-old boy has been jailed for 10 and a half years for attacking six moped riders with acid while trying to steal their bikes.
Derryck John, from Croydon, previously admitted carrying out the attacks in the north and east of London on 13 July last year.
He sprayed the riders in the face with a noxious liquid and stole two mopeds before trying to take another four.
One of the victims was left with "life-changing injuries", police said.
Judge Noel Lucas QC described John's "grave crimes" against members of the public as "despicable and cowardly".
John appeared via video-link at Wood Green Crown Court where he previously pleaded guilty to 12 offences.
These included six counts of throwing a corrosive liquid with intent to disable, burn, maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm, two counts of robbery and four counts of attempted robbery.
The substance used in the attacks was thought to have had a pH of one or two, an acidity level similar to battery acid.
At the time Judge Lucas lifted restrictions identifying the teenager, saying there was an "overwhelming, huge public interest" in doing so.
Jabed Hussain, who suffered facial burns and breathing problems after he was attacked by John, had called for the 17-year-old to be given a life sentence.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-43373719