National & International News Stories from 2019 to date

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Latest post of the previous page:

Junior doctors' strike: NHS braces for most disruptive walkout yet

A four-day junior doctors' strike across England is expected to be the most disruptive in the NHS's history. British Medical Association (BMA) members in planned and emergency care will walk out at 07:00 BST on Tuesday. More than a quarter of million of appointments and operations could be cancelled, and some hospitals say up to half of planned treatment is affected. The union said there were plans to pull doctors off picket lines if lives were in immediate danger. Under trade union laws, life-and-limb cover must be provided.

The junior doctors' approach contrasts with recent strikes by nurses and ambulance workers, which saw unions agree to exempt certain emergency services. But doctors say they are striking for patient safety as much as about pay, saying that current pay levels are affecting recruitment and leading to many doctors leaving the profession. Prof Sir Stephen Powis, the NHS's national medical director, said it would be "the most disruptive industrial action in NHS history". He said health leaders were concerned about the potential impact on patients and services, and cancer patients were among those whose treatment will be delayed. Mental health services and some GP surgeries are also expected to be impacted, while the NHS said it will prioritise keeping critical care, maternity, neonatal care, and trauma operations running.

Between 250,000 and 350,000 appointments and operations could be cancelled, according to estimates from senior NHS figures. An estimated 86,000 staff will strike, but the timing is as important as its scale - it immediately follows the bank holiday Easter weekend, a period when the NHS already faces increased demand and greater staff absence.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-65204548

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Notre-Dame: Renovators rush to complete refit by 2024

When President Macron said they would get Notre-Dame de Paris up and running inside just five years, everyone laughed. They're not laughing now. The promise to save the devastated cathedral in so short a space of time seemed back then like a typical bit of Macronian bombast. But on the fourth anniversary of the conflagration, the prospect of a Notre-Dame refitted by the end of next year no longer seems so absurd. "We made an undertaking in front of the whole world that we would have our cathedral finished inside five years," says Jean-Louis Georgelin, the retired army general in charge of reconstruction. "Our reputation is at stake. That is why we must unite all our knowledge, our efforts, our savoir-faire to achieve this goal."

If the rebuilding project has a symbol then it is the cathedral's 66 metre (217ft) spire, whose dramatic collapse into the flames was the appalling climax of the April 2019 disaster. Today, in a sign of the burgeoning optimism, a replacement spire is being completed at an industrial site in eastern France. Built from hundreds of oak trees raised and felled in ancient French forests, the base of the spire - it alone weighing more than 80 tonnes - was transported in the last few days to Paris and hoisted to the roof of the cathedral. It had to be measured with utter precision in order to slot into the corners of the mediaeval masonry where the original architects had put their first roof frame 900 years ago.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65256801

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Low Traffic Neighbourhoods: Is this the UK's most abused traffic bollard?

You have probably never felt sympathy for a bollard before, but spare a thought for the one installed on Howard Street in east Oxford last year. It is probably the most abused bollard in the UK. It is blocking the road as part of a Low Traffic Neighbourhood - an LTN - and has been repeatedly run over, beaten, bent, burnt and, finally, stolen. LTN schemes sound innocuous - they attempt to restrict through-traffic in local communities to cut congestion and pollution - but they have provoked fury. As well as bollard abuse, LTNs have sometimes led to confrontations between local residents and - more recently - to mass protests.

Over the past few months, councils across England have been lobbied by vocal campaigners against the introduction of new traffic schemes, and some council meetings have been disrupted by activists. LTNs involve restricting roads in local communities to virtually all through-traffic. They are funded by the government as part of its £3.2bn active travel policy - and the aim is that half of all trips in England's towns and cities be walked, cycled, or made in a wheelchair by 2030. It is part of a push to reduce air pollution, cut greenhouse gas emissions and make us all a bit fitter and healthier. Local authorities bid for government cash to pay for things, such as cycle lanes, big plant pots and bollards to redirect traffic to other roads.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65243274

[boatbuilder]

I do wonder about the mentality of the citizens in the US. I have just read the following two news articles where guns were used in the most innocent of incidents in two places is the country. What is wrong with that country?

Link 1: Six-year-old shot after basketball rolls into North Carolina mans yard

Link 2: Two Texas cheerleaders shot after one gets into wrong car

Thankfully, in both cases, nobody was killed.

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UK emergency-alert system: What is it and when is the test?

A UK-wide emergency alert system will be tested on Sunday. A message is set to appear on the home screens of mobile phones and tablets from 15:00 BST, accompanied by a loud siren-like sound or vibration lasting for about 10 seconds. The government says the new system is a "vital tool to keep the public safe in life-threatening emergencies".

The test alert will say: "This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there's a life-threatening emergency nearby. In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information. This is a test. You do not need to take any action." Phone users can swipe away the alert message or click "OK" to continue using their phone as normal.

The alerts will work on all 4G and 5G phone networks and on devices with the following software:
iPhones running iOS 14.5 or later
phones and tablets running Android 11 or later

Older "non-smart" phones will be unable to receive the alerts, and nor will devices that are turned off or on aeroplane mode. The alert will sound on phones on silent mode. The government says emergency services will have other ways to notify those without a compatible device. The alert is expected to reach about 90% of mobile phones. Despite the government strongly recommending enabling devices to receive alerts, users can opt out. This can be done by searching in settings for "emergency alerts" and turning off "severe alerts" and "extreme alerts". Personal data about a user's device or specific location will not be collected or shared, according to the Cabinet Office. The alerts will be broadcast from mobile-phone masts to every compatible phone and tablet within range. The government or emergency services do not need to know the mobile-phone number or any other personal data.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65177316

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Major NHS shake-up in the way patients can book GP appointments coming next month

The NHS is set to experience a major shake up to the way GPs operate and book appointments after it was announced that the 8am appointment scramble would be scrapped. The big change is set to come into effect next month on May 15, affecting millions of Britons. GP practices that are unable to offer immediate appointments will be required to either provide an on-the-spot assessment, or redirect them to an "appropriate medical service". As per the new regulation, doctors are obligated to respond to patients the first time they get in touch, either by communicating with them or directing them to appropriate healthcare services such as NHS 111. The regulation also states they can "where appropriate, take into account the preferences of the patient". The new update, which was announced by NHS England, aims to help more people secure appointments to "ensure consistency in the access patients can expect".

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/medica ... hover&ei=8

[boatbuilder]

Major NHS shake-up in the way patients can book GP appointments coming next month

....... As per the new regulation, doctors are obligated to respond to patients the first time they get in touch, either by communicating with them or directing them to appropriate healthcare services such as NHS 111.

Which will make the queues even longer on the '111' service. From a personal point of view, on the few occasions I have resorted to usimg that service over the years, I've had to spend too much time answering, in my opinion, too many un-necessary questions - the answers to which are in your medical records. Time which could be put to much better use in getting straight to the point.

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Australia to ban recreational vaping in major public health move

Recreational vaping will be banned in Australia, as part of a major crackdown amid what experts say is an "epidemic". Minimum quality standards will also be introduced, and the sale of vapes restricted to pharmacies. Nicotine vapes already require a prescription in Australia, but the industry is poorly regulated and a black market is thriving. Health Minister Mark Butler says the products are creating a new generation of nicotine addicts in Australia.

Also known as e-cigarettes, vapes heat a liquid - usually containing nicotine - turning it into a vapour that users inhale. They are widely seen as a product to help smokers quit. But in Australia, vapes have exploded in popularity as a recreational product, particularly among young people in cities. "Just like they did with smoking... 'Big Tobacco' has taken another addictive product, wrapped it in shiny packaging and added sweet flavours to create a new generation of nicotine addicts," Mr Butler said in a speech announcing reforms on Tuesday. "We have been duped."

Vapes are considered safer than normal cigarettes because they do not contain harmful tobacco - the UK government is even handing them to some smokers for free in its "swap to stop" programme. But health experts advise that vapes are not risk-free - they can often contain chemicals - and the long-term implications of using them are not yet clear.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-65446352

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Patients queue from 4am to secure NHS dentist

Hundreds of patients queued from 4am to secure an NHS dentist in scenes likened to the Soviet bloc bread lines. Residents in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, lined the High Street in an effort to register with a dental practice offering NHS care. Smile Dental Care had posted a message on its website that it would be “taking enquiries for new NHS patients” which had sparked the interest. One hopeful said more than 300 people were in the queue with some waiting since 4am. It comes as people across the country struggled to secure a NHS dentist, leaving some to resort to DIY dentistry.

The British Dental Association (BDA) described the scene as something belonging to the Soviet Bloc, not a 21st-century health service. Ellie Bewick, who shared photos of the queue on social media, said she joined the crowds at 9am but gave up waiting as she knew it “wasn’t going to happen”. “I walked up and saw the massive queue… I was chatting to a couple of people there and they were saying people had been queuing from four in the morning,” she told BBC Breakfast. Shawn Charlwood, chairman of the BDA’s general dental practice committee said: “This is a wealthy 21st-century nation, and dentistry is meant to be a core part of our NHS. But we’re now seeing scenes you’d expect outside bakeries in the Soviet bloc. The crisis in dentistry is still with us and requires real urgency and ambition from the Government.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/ ... r-AA1aG2Ap

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Covid global health emergency is over, WHO says

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that Covid-19 no longer represents a "global health emergency". The statement represents a major step towards ending the pandemic and comes three years after it first declared its highest level of alert over the virus. Officials said the virus' death rate had dropped from a peak of more than 100,000 people per week in January 2021 to just over 3,500 on 24 April. The head of the WHO said at least seven million people died in the pandemic.

But Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the true figure was "likely" closer to 20 million deaths - nearly three times the official estimate - and he warned that the virus remained a significant threat. "Yesterday, the Emergency Committee met for the 15th time and recommended to me that I declare an end to the public health emergency of international concern. I've accepted that advice. It is therefore with great hope that I declare Covid-19 over as a global health emergency," Dr Tedros said. He added that the decision had been considered carefully for some time and made on the basis of careful analysis of data. But he warned the removal of the highest level of alert did not mean the danger was over and said the emergency status could be reinstated if the situation changed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-65499929

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Spanish village votes in 30 seconds

An entire Spanish village voted in less than 30 seconds in this weekend's local elections. The seven registered voters of Villaroya, a small village in the La Rioja province, beat their own previous record of 32 seconds. Salvador Perez, the incumbent mayor, has been in the role since 1973. "I don't know if I'll get all seven votes, but it's almost certain that I will," he told Spanish media. Mr Perez said that Villaroya's residents are "very well trained" and were ready to cast their votes as soon as polls opened this morning. A mere 29 seconds and 52 hundredths later, Villaroya became the first seat in Spain to finish voting.

Mr Perez admitted his fellow countrymen were probably motivated by a sense of competitiveness with another Spanish village, Illán de Vacas in Castilla-La Mancha, which only has three registered voters. Spain's local elections are seen as a test run for parliamentary polls due at the end of the year. Twelve of the country's seventeen regional parliaments, and 8,000 town and city halls, are being contested.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65738871

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Calls for electric bikes to have number plates and for riders to have insurance

Electric bicycles should have number plates and their riders ought to be insured because they present a danger to pedestrians when ridden too fast, MPs and campaigners warn. They want them brought into line with other vehicles, given the damage that can be caused if a powerful e-bike hits someone. Some can weigh twice as much as a conventional bicycle, and although most are restricted to 15.5mph, kit can easily be bought online to soup up the motor so it hits 'potentially lethal' speeds.

The danger of modified e-bikes was laid bare in August 2018, when 56-year-old pedestrian Sakine Cihan was knocked down and killed by a rider travelling at 30mph in Dalston, East London. However, there is little regulation for e-bikes, unless they go faster than 15.5mph, which makes them technically a moped. Critics say the law is ridiculous and out of date, with the rollout of 20mph zones providing fresh justification for cyclists to be legally forced to abide by the speed limit.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/cal ... r-AA1cnPUH

I myself bought a small fold-up electric bicycle 2 months ago, as I am finding it harder to pedal a normal bike. It is great, although rather heavy, and also doesn't go as fast as I had thought it would. Being a fold-up bicycle, the wheels are only 14", and so it takes more effort to go the same speed as a normal sized bicycle. However, the pedal-assist electric motor helps to take the effort off of cycling. Also, being a small bicycle, the battery isn't as powerful as in the story above, and is only really suited to going around town. Having said all of this, I would be quite happy to wear a helmet, and have insurance and some form of numberplate.

[boatbuilder]

Following the two recent incidents in Cardiff and Salford where three teenage riders (two of them on one bike) have been killed after apparently being persued by police, some form of legislation is certainly required. I personally don't blame the police in either of those incidents after reading the reports.

[boatbuilder]

Brittany: Girl, 11, from British family shot dead in France



An 11-year-old girl from a British family has been shot dead, following a reported dispute between neighbours in north-western France.

French media said that the girl's parents were injured, and her eight-year-old sister was in "shock".

The UK's Foreign Office said it was providing assistance to a British family following a shooting in France.

The incident took place on Saturday evening in Saint-Herbot, a village near Quimper in Brittany.

The suspect, who has been reported to be a Dutch national, and his wife have been arrested, local media reported.

A local resident told media that the younger child raised the alarm, running to neighbours shouting: "My sister is dead, my sister is dead".

Local prosecutor Carine Halley said the reason for the incident was not yet known, but it appeared there had been a conflict between the neighbours for several years over a plot of land adjoining the two properties.

Marguerite Bleuzen, the mayor of Plonévez-du-Faou commune, said: "We knew the family well. There is a village fête every year and they always came.

"It is incomprehensible to have shot a child. No one can understand how that could have happened."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65874063

[boatbuilder]

Here is an update on the previous post I made last night about the shooting in Brittany:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65884594

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Southwark: Rare Roman mausoleum unearthed in London

A "completely unique" Roman mausoleum has been discovered by archaeologists in south London. The remains of the structure at the Liberty of Southwark site in Borough have been described as "extremely rare" and feature preserved floors and walls. Archaeologists think the site was used as some form of burial ground or tomb for wealthier members of Roman society. Work on creating a permanent display is planned, says the team behind the find.

The dig was led by the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) on behalf of Landsec and Transport for London (TfL). MOLA believes the quality of preservation makes it the most intact Roman mausoleum ever to be discovered in Britain. Alongside the central mosaic, raised platforms were found and steps on the lowest side were still intact. Excavators were surprised to find two layers to the site, with another similarly designed mosaic found beneath the first floor. They believe that the building was modified at some point, with the floor raised. "All signs indicate this was a substantial building," says MOLA, "perhaps two storeys high."

While the site is believed to be a burial location, no coffins were found. However, more than 100 coins, fragments of pottery, roofing tiles and pieces of metal were discovered. There has been a sustained period of excavation at the site, where the largest Roman mosaic found in London for over 50 years was uncovered in 2022.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65890080