Babak Belurs

Rabu, 12 Mei 2021

Scientists fear possible delay to 21 June lockdown end as India variant cases 'triple in one week' - iNews

UK cases of the highly transmissible Indian variant have more than tripled in a week, new figures are expected to confirm on Thursday, as scientists advising the government fear the final stage out of lockdown could be delayed due to the surge.

Boris Johnson has warned that the strain, B1617.2, one of three mutations fuelling the devastating epidemic in India, is “of increasing concern here in the UK”.

Public health officials and ministers are stepping up efforts to curb infections of the variant in areas where there have been the greatest increases, including Bolton, Greater Manchester, where secondary school pupils could be told to continue to wear face masks after the policy is dropped for the rest of England from next Monday.
Members of Sage have been called to an urgent meeting on Thursday to assess the threat.

A member of the government’s scientific advisory committee, Sage, told i that while next Monday’s step 3 of easing of restrictions in England would go ahead, concerns over the Indian variant might increase ahead of the fourth and final step on 21 June and that “a delay is possible”.

The consortium of scientists tracking new variants, COG-UK, has identified a total of 1723 cases of B1617.2, and while some of these will be duplicates, if the figure is confirmed by Public Health England in its weekly update this would be more than three times last week’s number of 520.

B1617.2 was designated as a variant of concern a week ago, and two weeks ago there were 202 cases. Scientists believe the variant could be more transmissible than the Kent variant, but that it will also not be resistant to vaccines.

The Indian variant is a rapidly evolving crisis in England – the Government is ignoring its serious risk

Ministers have not ruled out introducing local lockdowns in areas where the Indian variant is increasing.
Besides Bolton, there are clusters in Blackburn and evidence of rising community transmission in parts of London.

Secondary school pupils in Bolton could be told by their teachers to continue wearing their facemasks after 17 May, with figures suggesting transmission is greatest among teenagers and people in their 20s.

Schools and colleges in the Greater Manchester town will be told they can direct children to continue wearing masks, although public health officials say the decision will rest with school heads rather than being an instruction.

Dr Helen Lowey, Bolton’s Director of Public Health, said: “We don’t just want to focus one intervention. Test, trace and isolate and the vaccine programme are the most important, but if school and colleges want to continue with face coverings, we will support them and we can explore whether it is something we want to do across Bolton.”

A spokesman for Bolton Council said officials were “in dialogue with schools and central government on the use of face coverings in schools from Monday”.

Return of local lockdowns to tackle Covid-19 surges not ruled out by Government, Cabinet minister says

Addressing the Commons on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said despite progress against the virus “the threat of this virus remains real and new variants pose a potentially lethal danger, including the one first identified in India which is of increasing concern here in the UK. So caution has to be our watchword”.

Across the UK the weekly average of all coronavirus cases rose for the third day running, with 2284 new cases reported. There were 11 further deaths.

Asked whether local lockdowns could return, Environment Secretary George Eustice told Sky News: “We can’t rule anything out but our plan that has been set out by the Prime Minister and the reason we are being incredibly cautious about exiting lockdown is because we want this to be the last.”

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicmh0dHBzOi8vaW5ld3MuY28udWsvbmV3cy9zY2llbnRpc3RzLWZlYXItcG9zc2libGUtZGVsYXktZW5kLWxvY2tkb3duLXVrLWNhc2VzLWluZGlhLXZhcmlhbnQtdHJpcGxlLW9uZS13ZWVrLTk5ODgxMdIBdmh0dHBzOi8vaW5ld3MuY28udWsvbmV3cy9zY2llbnRpc3RzLWZlYXItcG9zc2libGUtZGVsYXktZW5kLWxvY2tkb3duLXVrLWNhc2VzLWluZGlhLXZhcmlhbnQtdHJpcGxlLW9uZS13ZWVrLTk5ODgxMS9hbXA?oc=5

2021-05-12 18:38:00Z
52781580851785

Fred West police search Gloucester cafe for Mary Bastholm - BBC News

Police are continuing their search for a body at a cafe in Gloucester linked to a girl feared to have been murdered by serial killer Fred West.

Mary Bastholm, 15, who worked at the cafe, went missing in the city on 6 January 1968. She has never been found.

On Friday, documentary-makers called officers to The Clean Plate, where West was a regular customer in the 1960s.

His wife Rose's former lawyer Leo Goatley said it "wouldn't surprise me if a body was found there".

"Fred West was known to frequent the cafe and Anne McFall - his first victim - worked there and Mary Bastholm worked there," he said.

"I've spoken to witnesses who have said that they may have seen Rose West there."

Police car and a white tent outside The Clean Plate

He said that when he asked her about Ms Bastholm, her comment was: "Well that was before my time".

But, he added that he was "quite certain that Rose West knows an awful lot more about many of these atrocious acts".

The film crew told police last week they had found evidence that a body could be buried within the property.

Gloucestershire Police have said officers could be at the site "for a number of weeks" and excavation work is yet to begin.

In 1994, West admitted murdering his daughter Heather. The confession came as police began to search 25 Cromwell Street, where they found the bodies of nine girls and young women.

He and his wife Rose were jointly charged with nine murders and he was charged with a further three.

Chris Ford, Ms Bastholm's friend, said it was thought at first that the teenager had "just left home" and run away.

"But she [Mary's mother] said she was worried about her because she said 'all she has got on her was what she was stood up in'," Ms Ford said.

"She said to me 'I'm going to always leave the light on in the hall for Mary to come, home to'."

'Absolutely amazed'

City journalist John Hawkins said "it had been speculated on for many years that police should look at that cafe".

Mr Hawkins started working in the city as a 16-year-old "cub reporter" a few months before Ms Bastholm disappeared.

He said he was "absolutely amazed" to hear that police were searching the cafe after being asked to previously and refusing each time.

"Of course it [Mary's disappearance] turned out to be perhaps the biggest mystery story I was ever involved in and certainly one of the biggest stories Gloucester's ever had," he said.

"Not until the early 1990s, when the West case came to light, did we start to put two and two together.

"For those who stretch back a bit and remember those times in the 90s, they might be thinking, 'suddenly, we've got this all going on again'."

West's biographer Geoffrey Wansell said: "[West] liked very young women, he liked naive ones. It would be fair to say Mary was naive, vulnerable, she was only 15, and she would have been lulled into a false sense of security by West.

"He was terrifically good at making you feel at home, he would have charmed the birds off the trees and he would charmed Mary Bastholm."

Mr Wansell said although West never admitted to police that he had killed her, he allegedly confessed to his solicitor, who was then sacked.

He said West belongs "amongst the pantheon of British evil" and had "stained humanity in a way that is unforgivable and should never be forgotten".

Ms Bastholm's family are aware of recent developments and have asked for privacy.

West took his own life in prison while awaiting a trial in 1995.

Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk

Flat renovations

The prime minister's personal finances have been under intense scrutiny in recent weeks.

In particular, he has faced questions about how renovations to the flat, above 11 Downing Street, that he shares with fiancee Carrie Symonds were paid for.

He has insisted he personally paid for the work, but has declined to say whether he received an initial loan.

The Electoral Commission is investigating whether any spending on the flat falls within its remit, and whether any donation to the Conservative Party was properly declared.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiL2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLXBvbGl0aWNzLTU3MDg3Mjc00gEzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvdWstcG9saXRpY3MtNTcwODcyNzQuYW1w?oc=5

2021-05-12 12:35:12Z
52781570946443

Nine-year-old killed after being struck by lightning named as Jordan Banks - Sky News

A nine-year-old boy who died after apparently being struck by lightning on a football field in Blackpool has been named as Jordan Banks.

Police officers were called shortly after 5pm on Tuesday to fields near to School Road after reports a child had been injured.

Emergency services attended and the boy was taken to hospital but died a short time later.

It is believed the boy was struck by lightning, although inquiries are still ongoing.

The boy's family have been informed and are being supported by officers.

Tributes have been paid to Jordan and flowers and gifts have been left at the scene of the incident.

Jordan's best friend CJ Campbell told Sky News: "I started crying straight away as soon as I heard [the news] because he is my very best friend in my class at school.

"I was so shocked, you wouldn't expect to hear that news."

He left flowers and a football with a message written on it in memory his friend.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page, Jordan's team Clifton Rangers Junior Football Club said: "It is with great sadness and a very heavy heart we announce that the tragic incident yesterday involved one of our own players.

"Jordan of our U9 Bees, tragically passed away yesterday evening doing what he loved.

"Jordan was a shining light and an inspiration to everyone that he met. A strong, determined and courageous young man, who will be missed by everyone.

"The world has truly lost an extraordinary young man, who had done so much good in his community."

The club said they would be working to support those with Jordan at the time of the incident and his family.

The statement finished with: "Fly high young man, sleep tight and god bless."

Before he died Jordan was raising money for mental health services in honour of his uncle who took his own life in 2018.

He raised £2,500 by running 30 miles in ten days.

His efforts attracted the attention of his hero Liverpool footballer James Milner, who sent him a video congratulating him on his "incredible" work.

In the clip, Milner said: "Just remember you never walk alone, all the boys are behind you… well done bud you should be very proud."

Detective Superintendent Nick Connaughton of Lancashire Police said: "This is a truly devastating incident and our thoughts are wholeheartedly with the family and friends of the young boy, who has passed away, at this very sad and distressing time."

Road closures in place following the incident have now been lifted.

Anybody with information about the incident, or who witnessed it and has not yet spoken to police is asked to get in touch on 101, quoting log 1169 of 11 May.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L25pbmUteWVhci1vbGQta2lsbGVkLWFmdGVyLWJlaW5nLXN0cnVjay1ieS1saWdodG5pbmctbmFtZWQtYXMtam9yZGFuLWJhbmtzLTEyMzA0Mjg30gFyaHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnNreS5jb20vc3RvcnkvYW1wL25pbmUteWVhci1vbGQta2lsbGVkLWFmdGVyLWJlaW5nLXN0cnVjay1ieS1saWdodG5pbmctbmFtZWQtYXMtam9yZGFuLWJhbmtzLTEyMzA0Mjg3?oc=5

2021-05-12 12:11:15Z
52781587519406

Nine-year-old killed after being 'struck by lightning' named as Jordan Banks - Sky News

A nine-year-old boy who died after apparently being struck by lightning on a football field in Blackpool has been named as Jordan Banks.

Officers from Blackpool police were called shortly after 5pm on Tuesday to fields near to School Road after reports a child had been injured.

Emergency services attended and the boy was taken to hospital but died a short time later.

It is believed the boy was struck by lightning, although inquiries are still ongoing.

The boy's family have been informed and are being supported by officers.

Tributes have been paid to Jordan and flowers and gifts have been left at the scene of the incident.

Jordan's best friend CJ Campbell told Sky News: "I started crying straight away as soon as I heard [the news] because he is my very best friend in my class at school.

"I was so shocked, you wouldn't expect to hear that news."

He left flowers and a football with a message written on it in memory his friend.

"Jordan of our U9 Bees, tragically passed away yesterday evening doing what he loved.

"Jordan was a shining light and an inspiration to everyone that he met. A strong, determined and courageous young man, who will be missed by everyone.

"The world has truly lost an extraordinary young man, who had done so much good in his community."

The club said they would be working to support those with Jordan at the time of the incident and his family.

The statement finished with: "Fly high young man, sleep tight and god bless."

Before he died Jordan was raising money for mental health services in honour of his uncle who took his own life in 2018.

He raised £2,500 by running 30 miles in ten days.

His efforts attracted the attention of his hero Liverpool footballer James Milner who sent him a video congratulating him on his "incredible" work.

Road closures in place following the incident have now been lifted.

Anybody with information about the incident, or who witnessed it and has not yet spoken to police is asked to get in touch on 101, quoting log 1169 of 11 May.

Adblock test (Why?)

Covid in Scotland: Easing of restrictions not a 'free-for-all', says Leitch - BBC News

The easing of Covid restrictions from Monday should not be thought of as a "free-for-all", Scotland's national clinical director has warned.

Prof Jason Leitch said people should take advantage of the new easing, but warned against hugging "random strangers".

Most of Scotland is due to move down at least one level from 17 May, with the probable exception of Moray.

Infection rates in the area are more than four times the Scotland-wide rate.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) figures show that Moray recorded a rate of 99.1 cases per 100,000 people on 8 May, with indications this figure may rise still further.

The Scotland-wide rate on the same day was 22.8 cases.

Prof Leitch said this coming Monday's relaxation in restrictions was "terrific news" and was thanks to the people of Scotland obeying the rules that have been in place for several months.

But he told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme the country was not "out of the woods", with the virus still spreading rapidly in many parts of the globe.

"People shouldn't think this is a free-for-all 'all bets are off, we're all back to normal'," he said.

"They should absolutely take advantage of managing to see family, of going to the businesses that have been closed for so long, but do that cautiously. Do it within the safety measures that still exist."

He cautioned that the relaxation of rules around physical contact were more about "hugging your parents when they arrive at your house".

"I'm not suggesting you hug for 20 minutes or you hug random strangers in the street at the end of a night out," he said.

Moray decision due

Scotland recorded 238 new cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday, with 1.7% of tests being positive.

No Covid deaths within 28 days of a positive test were registered for the fifth day in a row.

Prof Leitch said a final decision on Moray would be taken later this week, but added it was unlikely the area would move to level two.

The Scottish government's upper threshold for level two is 50 cases per 100,000 and PHS data shows that Glasgow is now also above this bar, with a rate of 51.9.

Public health officials also take other factors into account, such as the pressure on local health services, when deciding what level a local authority should be placed.

Prof Rowland Kao, the chair of veterinary epidemiology and data science at the University of Edinburgh, also said people should go "slow and steady" when it came to new freedoms around physical contact.

"We need to be aware and keep in mind that while the numbers of infections are low, things can change quite rapidly - especially as we allow more and more forms of contact," he said.

"Those changes mean that transmission rates could be higher if people get infected. They could cause mini-outbreaks and mini-outbreaks could lead to additional restrictions which is what we don't want to have."

Banner image reading 'more about coronavirus'

RULES: What are the restrictions in your area?
LOCKDOWN: Six months that changed our lives
CASES: Where are the latest cases in Scotland?
WHO? The people who have died with Covid-19

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiL2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLXNjb3RsYW5kLTU3MDczOTA40gEzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvdWstc2NvdGxhbmQtNTcwNzM5MDguYW1w?oc=5

2021-05-12 10:08:35Z
52781586872916

Cats must be microchipped under animal care plan - BBC News

Microchipping pet cats will become compulsory under a wide-ranging new animal welfare bill.

Environment Secretary George Eustice told the BBC the policy would be monitored by vets and enforced in the same way as it is for dogs, which he said has led to over 90% compliance.

The bill will also formally recognise the sentience of many animals.

But Mr Eustice said this measure was aimed at pets and livestock, rather than wild animals.

The government's Action Plan for Animal Welfare also includes measures to ban exporting live animals for slaughter, the keeping of primates as pets and importing hunting trophies.

In addition, remote-controlled training collars for dogs will be outlawed and the government will look at banning the sale of foie gras - a food made from the livers of force-fed ducks or geese.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Eustice said that compulsory microchipping for cats would resemble the current rules for dogs, where vets advise pet owners whose animals do not have a microchip to get one, and "if they ignore it, there is an enforcement process".

Dog owners can be fined £500 under the existing law.

Lianna Angliss at Hopefield Animal Sanctuary said that as well as helping to reunite lost cats with their owners, compulsory microchipping could help animal sanctuaries trace people who abandon their pets.

The environment secretary also told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the recognition of animal sentience would give the UK an equivalent to a declaration that already applies in the European Union.

It will enshrine in law that animals have the capacity to feel hunger and pain, and are aware of what is happening to them. It will apply to vertebrates, but not to animals such as octopus and squid.

Mr Eustice said there would be an expert animal sentience committee who would advise on policy.

But asked if it would affect hunting, fishing or road-building projects which might disturb habitats, he said the recognition of animal sentience was "much more applicable" to pets and livestock than wildlife.

Claire Bass, executive director of the Humane Society, said recognising animal sentience was a key part of "probably the biggest new set of commitments on animal welfare for decades".

The plan includes legislation in a number of bills set to be approved in the coming months. These include the Animal Welfare Bill, the Animal Sentience Bill and the Animals Abroad Bill. These will expand on the protections in the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Legislation to restrict the use of glue traps, designed to capture rats and mice, will be supported.

Reacting to the news that owners will have to get their cats microchipped, Jacqui Cuff, head of advocacy and government relations for Cats Protection, said she was "delighted".

"We had the dog microchipping regulation passed in 2016, so we've been waiting a long time. There are around 2.6 million unchipped pet cats in the UK; that's a lot of cats wandering around with no permanent identification," she said.

Cat theft reportedly increased by more than 12% over the last year, and only around 70% of owned cats are chipped at the moment.

Chris Sherwood, chief executive of the RSPCA, said: "These announcements will make a real and lasting difference to animals' welfare, so we're pleased the government is committed to improving animals' lives in the UK and abroad. We can no longer ignore the inextricable link that exists between the way we treat animals, our own health and that of the planet - but to really achieve a step change, it will take courage from right across government.

"We urge the government to put animal welfare at the heart of policy making and make these announcements just the beginning of an evolving, holistic animal health and welfare strategy."

With regard to farmed animals, live exports for fattening and slaughter will be banned. This is only possible because the UK has left the EU. The caging of poultry and the practice of restricting the movement of pregnant and suckling pigs will also be examined.

Sows can legally be kept in a "farrowing crate" for up to five weeks. These crates are of a size that prevents the sow from turning around and potentially crushing her new-born piglets. However, preventing sows from engaging in normal behaviour can cause them to become stressed.

There is, however, no legal guarantee that food from animals reared abroad will have been produced to high animal-welfare standards.

Last year, ministers controversially voted against a House of Lords amendment which would have blocked imports that didn't meet welfare and food safety standards in the UK. It will now depend on post-Brexit trade deals with countries such as the US, where cows are routinely treated with hormones and chickens are washed with chlorine - which is illegal here.

The deputy president of the National Farmers' Union (NFU), Stuart Roberts, said it was "ridiculous" if high standards weren't applied to imports as well.

"We have some of highest standards for animal welfare in the world. It's good that the government have that same ambition," he said.

"But at the moment we are negotiating a trade deal with Australia, where you can have journey times for animals in excess of 24 hours without access to food or water. We cannot increase standards here, and at the same time not apply the same criteria to imports, it's just hypocrisy."

Mr Eustice said the UK could use tariffs on imported produce to uphold its standards and could also impose ban the sale of imported food which relied on practices banned domestically - such as foie gras.

Other measures in the plan include banning the advertisement of "unacceptable low-welfare animal practices abroad" such as elephant rides, along with prohibiting the export of "detached shark fins". The Ivory Act, banning the sale of ivory, will also be implemented.

There will also be new laws to "crack down on illegal hare coursing," and police will be given more powers to protect farm animals from dangerous or out-of-control dogs.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiN2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3NjaWVuY2UtZW52aXJvbm1lbnQtNTcwNjgxODLSATtodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY28udWsvbmV3cy9zY2llbmNlLWVudmlyb25tZW50LTU3MDY4MTgyLmFtcA?oc=5

2021-05-12 08:48:17Z
52781588884575

Babak Belurs

Rabu, 12 Mei 2021

Scientists fear possible delay to 21 June lockdown end as India variant cases 'triple in one week' - iNews

Read More

Read More

Fred West police search Gloucester cafe for Mary Bastholm - BBC News

'Absolutely amazed'

Related Internet Links

County court judgement against Boris Johnson, record shows - BBC News

Flat renovations

Nine-year-old killed after being struck by lightning named as Jordan Banks - Sky News

Nine-year-old killed after being 'struck by lightning' named as Jordan Banks - Sky News

Covid in Scotland: Easing of restrictions not a 'free-for-all', says Leitch - BBC News

Moray decision due

Cats must be microchipped under animal care plan - BBC News

Rabu, 12 Mei 2021

The freshest exclusives and sharpest analysis, curated for your inbox

Read More

Read More

'Absolutely amazed'

Related Internet Links

Flat renovations

More on Blackpool

More on Blackpool

Moray decision due