Saturday 27 June 2009
Defence, security and intelligence grandees will next week launch a critique of the government’s strategy for dealing with terror. The report will recommend that the government ensures that its own agents employ only legal methods and robustly challenge alleged or suspected torture.
The two year study concludes that a commitment to the rule of law at home and abroad and a willingness to uphold and protect human rights are fundamental to the legitimacy of a national security strategy. It also examines the Prevent strategy to counter radicalization and terrorism within Britain and warns that there have been occasion where enforcement activity has backfired.
The security says that a divided and grievance-ridden society is unlikely to prove a resilient one when subjected to the extreme disruptions that future security scenarios might bring.
vrijdag 26 juni 2009
Serena Williams charges through to fourth round at Wimbledon
Friday 26 June 2009
Serena Williams moved into the fourth round at Wimbledon with a comfortable 6-3, 6-4 win over Roberta Vinci.
Vinci dropped her opening service game but came back in the next game from a miss-hit and a rare double fault from Williams. Williams broke at the start of the second set and had break points for a double-break in the third game before Vinci recovered.
Vinci could not claw back the second break and saved two match points before the American eventually served out to wrap up a 6-3 6-4 win in an hour and 7 minutes.
Serena Williams moved into the fourth round at Wimbledon with a comfortable 6-3, 6-4 win over Roberta Vinci.
Vinci dropped her opening service game but came back in the next game from a miss-hit and a rare double fault from Williams. Williams broke at the start of the second set and had break points for a double-break in the third game before Vinci recovered.
Vinci could not claw back the second break and saved two match points before the American eventually served out to wrap up a 6-3 6-4 win in an hour and 7 minutes.
Brazil into final after Dani Alves leaves it late to break South Africa's resistance
Thursday 25 June 2009
Brazil’s Daniel Alves broke South Africa’s heart with an 88th-minute free-kick that dumped the host out of the Confederations Cup with a 1-0 semi-final victory in Johannesburg.
The first shot at the goal came from Luis Fabiano after 13 minutes, he fires a low shot from inside the box that forced a save from Itumeleng Khune. South Africa responded a 20-yard shot that flew across the face of the Brazil goal. Both countries created more opportunities but neither made a goal.
With only nine minutes remaining the Brazilian manager looked to change things by introducing Alves for Santos and for whatever reason he made the change, it worked.
I do not watch soccer, but my dad does so I am forced to watch it too downstairs. I think it is sad that the host is now out of the competition, they were doing so well so far.
Brazil’s Daniel Alves broke South Africa’s heart with an 88th-minute free-kick that dumped the host out of the Confederations Cup with a 1-0 semi-final victory in Johannesburg.
The first shot at the goal came from Luis Fabiano after 13 minutes, he fires a low shot from inside the box that forced a save from Itumeleng Khune. South Africa responded a 20-yard shot that flew across the face of the Brazil goal. Both countries created more opportunities but neither made a goal.
With only nine minutes remaining the Brazilian manager looked to change things by introducing Alves for Santos and for whatever reason he made the change, it worked.
I do not watch soccer, but my dad does so I am forced to watch it too downstairs. I think it is sad that the host is now out of the competition, they were doing so well so far.
Woman trampled to death by cows to be named
Monday 22 June 2009
A woman who was killed when she was charged by a herd of cows on Saturday is expected to be named later today after her relatives have been informed. The woman was trampled to death while walking her two dogs which are believed to have made the herd frightened.
The cows, which were with their calves, attacked the woman and surrounded her before she could escape. Judith Hynes, who owns a local guesthouse, said that many people do not realize the dangers posed by cattle, especially when they have calves and are protective. Cattle will protect their young and feel threatened by the dogs. It’s the dogs the cattle are usually concerned with, not the owners.
Last year another dog walker was killed in a similar incident in Suffolk. She was knocked to the ground and trampled after trying to bring her 2 dogs under control.
I was surprised to read that cows killed a woman, I never knew they would do that. After reading the explanation it became a little more clear on why they did. But it is still very sad that this happened.
A woman who was killed when she was charged by a herd of cows on Saturday is expected to be named later today after her relatives have been informed. The woman was trampled to death while walking her two dogs which are believed to have made the herd frightened.
The cows, which were with their calves, attacked the woman and surrounded her before she could escape. Judith Hynes, who owns a local guesthouse, said that many people do not realize the dangers posed by cattle, especially when they have calves and are protective. Cattle will protect their young and feel threatened by the dogs. It’s the dogs the cattle are usually concerned with, not the owners.
Last year another dog walker was killed in a similar incident in Suffolk. She was knocked to the ground and trampled after trying to bring her 2 dogs under control.
I was surprised to read that cows killed a woman, I never knew they would do that. After reading the explanation it became a little more clear on why they did. But it is still very sad that this happened.
Teenage babysitter murdered two-year-old girl
Friday 26 June 2009
A 15-year-old babysitter was today convicted of the murder of a two-year-old girl who was beaten and suffered 68 injuries while her mother was shopping. The girl, Demi, was bitten, beaten and had her hair sheared off by Karl McCluney who was looking after her for 90 minutes.
Manchester crown court heard that McCluney took Demi to a park before attacking her at a flat in Eccles, Greater Manchester, then watching television as she lay injured. The mother, heroin user Ann Marie McDonald, told the jury she had left her daughter with McCluney several times. She returned that day to find him standing outside the house and he tols her: “I picked her up – I might have hurt her – and she fell in the park.” She screamed at him and asked him why he hadn’t called an ambulance. He claimed: “I haven’t done nothing.”
The local authority admitted it failed to initiate a child protection investigation despite the threshold being met. The professional focus was focused on the mother, she regularly missed medical appointments and lied about her drug use and overdose on heroin.
McCluney attempted to cover up responsibility by telling a series of lies. A psychiatrist said that McCluney suffered from an unsocialised conduct disorder and had a below- normal IQ.
I think it is really sad that this happened to such young children, both the girl and for the boy. I would really like to know what happened with this boy that he killed a 2 year old girl.
A 15-year-old babysitter was today convicted of the murder of a two-year-old girl who was beaten and suffered 68 injuries while her mother was shopping. The girl, Demi, was bitten, beaten and had her hair sheared off by Karl McCluney who was looking after her for 90 minutes.
Manchester crown court heard that McCluney took Demi to a park before attacking her at a flat in Eccles, Greater Manchester, then watching television as she lay injured. The mother, heroin user Ann Marie McDonald, told the jury she had left her daughter with McCluney several times. She returned that day to find him standing outside the house and he tols her: “I picked her up – I might have hurt her – and she fell in the park.” She screamed at him and asked him why he hadn’t called an ambulance. He claimed: “I haven’t done nothing.”
The local authority admitted it failed to initiate a child protection investigation despite the threshold being met. The professional focus was focused on the mother, she regularly missed medical appointments and lied about her drug use and overdose on heroin.
McCluney attempted to cover up responsibility by telling a series of lies. A psychiatrist said that McCluney suffered from an unsocialised conduct disorder and had a below- normal IQ.
I think it is really sad that this happened to such young children, both the girl and for the boy. I would really like to know what happened with this boy that he killed a 2 year old girl.
woensdag 24 juni 2009
Drop-out students get help to finish their degrees at home
Wednesday 24 June 2009
The government wants to set up a fund of £12 million to give some of the 35.000 students who drop out every year a chance to complete their degree online through the Open University. The Higher Education Statistics Agency reported that in 2007 7.4% of younger graduates dropped out during their first year at university, up from 7.1% the year before. The Higher Education Funding Council for England hopes that 15% of the 35.000 who drop out each year can be encouraged to complete their degree at home instead of doing it at university.
Earlier this week the government announced a separate £20 million fund to support online learning. Last week Wes Streeting, the head of the National Union of Students argued that lectured should be replaced with more virtual learning.
I think the governmnet did good to invest some money in online learning, a lot of students prefer sitting at home with the internet over sitting in a classroom.
The government wants to set up a fund of £12 million to give some of the 35.000 students who drop out every year a chance to complete their degree online through the Open University. The Higher Education Statistics Agency reported that in 2007 7.4% of younger graduates dropped out during their first year at university, up from 7.1% the year before. The Higher Education Funding Council for England hopes that 15% of the 35.000 who drop out each year can be encouraged to complete their degree at home instead of doing it at university.
Earlier this week the government announced a separate £20 million fund to support online learning. Last week Wes Streeting, the head of the National Union of Students argued that lectured should be replaced with more virtual learning.
I think the governmnet did good to invest some money in online learning, a lot of students prefer sitting at home with the internet over sitting in a classroom.
zondag 21 juni 2009
Terror alert system too late for Olympics
Sunday 21 June 2009
A £1.4bn critical response system to ensure emergency services can deal with a major incident is now running so far behind schedule that it is unlikely to be ready for the London 2012 Olympics, according to leaked documents.
The FiReControl system is described as critical for protecting public safety and increasing the nation’s resilience and the government claims that once it is up and running it will meet industrial accidents, terrorist threat and weather-related incidents –a reference to the dramatic floods of the recent years. The system will link all fire and rescue control centers via nine regional hubs and will cost £380m to set up. It automatically channels emergency calls to available operators. Satellite positioning equipment monitors the whereabouts of each of each emergency vehicle so control centers can establish whether it is the best recourse for an incident. The system was supposed to be completed at the end of 2007, but a series of delays has pushed it back years. The fire service wanted the system in place at least 12 months before the games started to allow it to sort out any teething problems. But leaked documents show that the project will not actually be completed until after the London games.
Delaying the system’s introduction until after the games raised the questions about whether the capital could cope with a major incident during the event. The only option now is to improve the existing system rather than introduce a new one. “The project is years late, over-budget, and government remains unable to convince the fire service they can make it work properly,” said the Fire Brigades Union assistant general secretary, Andy Dark. “To continue with these plans in this state is entirely irresponsible.”
I think that it is a shame that they cannot get the system to work before the Olympics. That way they would be able to know whenever and wherever there is an accident of some sort. But if they can improve the existing system it will probably be ok too.
A £1.4bn critical response system to ensure emergency services can deal with a major incident is now running so far behind schedule that it is unlikely to be ready for the London 2012 Olympics, according to leaked documents.
The FiReControl system is described as critical for protecting public safety and increasing the nation’s resilience and the government claims that once it is up and running it will meet industrial accidents, terrorist threat and weather-related incidents –a reference to the dramatic floods of the recent years. The system will link all fire and rescue control centers via nine regional hubs and will cost £380m to set up. It automatically channels emergency calls to available operators. Satellite positioning equipment monitors the whereabouts of each of each emergency vehicle so control centers can establish whether it is the best recourse for an incident. The system was supposed to be completed at the end of 2007, but a series of delays has pushed it back years. The fire service wanted the system in place at least 12 months before the games started to allow it to sort out any teething problems. But leaked documents show that the project will not actually be completed until after the London games.
Delaying the system’s introduction until after the games raised the questions about whether the capital could cope with a major incident during the event. The only option now is to improve the existing system rather than introduce a new one. “The project is years late, over-budget, and government remains unable to convince the fire service they can make it work properly,” said the Fire Brigades Union assistant general secretary, Andy Dark. “To continue with these plans in this state is entirely irresponsible.”
I think that it is a shame that they cannot get the system to work before the Olympics. That way they would be able to know whenever and wherever there is an accident of some sort. But if they can improve the existing system it will probably be ok too.
Abonneren op:
Posts (Atom)