Babak Belurs

Jumat, 10 Juni 2022

Ukraine war: Foreign Secretary Liz Truss calls death sentence of Britons 'an egregious breach of Geneva Convention' - Sky News

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has said the death sentences handed to two Britons in Ukraine are "an egregious breach of the Geneva Convention".

Ms Truss said she had spoken with her Ukrainian counterpart to "discuss efforts to secure the release of prisoners of war held by Russian proxies".

"The UK continues to back Ukraine against Putin's barbaric invasion," she tweeted.

Putin hints at more invasions in ominous comments - follow latest updates

Aiden Aslin, 28, and Shaun Pinner, 48, have been accused of being mercenaries after they were captured in Mariupol in April during the intense fight for control of the port city and later appeared in court in the separatist Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was said to be "appalled" by the sentences handed to them and has ordered ministers to do "everything in their power" to secure their release.

A No 10 spokesperson said: "The prime minister was appalled at the sentencing of these men. He has been following the case closely and has asked ministers to do everything in their power to try and reunite them with their families as soon as we can.

"We completely condemn the sham sentencing of these men to death. There's no justification at all for this breach of the protection they're entitled to."

Asked if the UK government would talk to Russia to secure their release, the spokesperson said "we don't have regular interaction with the Russians".

They said the "priority" was to work with the Ukrainian government "to try and ensure their release as quickly as possible".

"They're afforded protection under the Geneva Convention as members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which is why we want to continue working with them closely to try and get them freed as quickly as we can."

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov declined to comment on the cases, saying they are under the jurisdiction of the Donetsk People's Republic.

Mr Lavrov told a press conference: "Currently they are guided by the laws of the Donetsk People's Republic.

"Because these crimes were committed on the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic, all the rest is speculation.

"I will not comment on the Donetsk People's Republic judiciary."

Earlier on Friday, government minister Robin Walker said the government would use "all diplomatic channels" to raise the case of the two Britons.

He told Sky News: "As the foreign secretary has made clear, we will offer all support we can to them and their families.

"We have been absolutely clear throughout that these people should be treated as prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention, there is no basis on which they can be put on trial.

"This is an illegal court in a sham government that has held this trial and obviously we don't recognise it has any authority, but we will continue to use all diplomatic channels to make the case that these are prisoners of war who should be treated accordingly."

He added: "We utterly condemn the approach that's been taken here and we will use every method at our disposal to take this issue up."

Subscribe to the Ukraine War Diaries on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Spreaker

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMilAFodHRwczovL25ld3Muc2t5LmNvbS9zdG9yeS91a3JhaW5lLXdhci1mb3JlaWduLXNlY3JldGFyeS1yYWlzZXMtaXNzdWUtb2YtYnJpdG9ucy1mYWNpbmctZGVhdGgtcGVuYWx0eS1pbi1kb25ldHNrLXdpdGgtdWtyYWluaWFuLWNvdW50ZXJwYXJ0LTEyNjMxMzM50gGYAWh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2FtcC91a3JhaW5lLXdhci1mb3JlaWduLXNlY3JldGFyeS1yYWlzZXMtaXNzdWUtb2YtYnJpdG9ucy1mYWNpbmctZGVhdGgtcGVuYWx0eS1pbi1kb25ldHNrLXdpdGgtdWtyYWluaWFuLWNvdW50ZXJwYXJ0LTEyNjMxMzM5?oc=5

2022-06-10 11:15:00Z
1460795434

Manchester stabbing: Boy, 14, killed and mother injured as police hunt suspect - Sky News

A 14-year-old boy has died and his mother has left with serious injuries after a "ferocious" stabbing in Manchester.

The suspect, who is understood to be known to the victims, has gone on the run, with police warning the public not to approach him.

He has been described as an Asian man wearing dark clothing, aged in his mid-40s, with a medium build and of medium height.

Officers were called to reports of a domestic incident at a home in Miles Platting at about 9.30pm on Thursday, where the young boy was found with stab wounds.

He was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital, where he died just an hour later.

His mother, who is in her 40s, was also treated by emergency services for serious wounds and taken to hospital, where she remains in a stable condition.

Detective Chief Inspector Gina Brennand of Greater Manchester Police described the incident as a "ferocious attack" that officers believe was "contained and domestic-related".

"We are working at a tremendous pace to find the person that did this and to take them off the streets and into custody, where we can continue to piece together what we know about this utterly tragic incident," she added.

A large police cordon remains around the area on Bednal Avenue as officers continue their investigation.

The suspect was last seen walking along Sawley Road, which is just a street away, shortly after the attack took place.

Anyone who believes they have seen the suspect has been asked to call 999.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicmh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L21hbmNoZXN0ZXItYm95LTE0LWtpbGxlZC1hbmQtbW90aGVyLWluanVyZWQtaW4tc3RhYmJpbmctYXMtcG9saWNlLWh1bnQtc3VzcGVjdC0xMjYzMTI4MtIBAA?oc=5

2022-06-10 10:18:10Z
1465319195

Kamis, 09 Juni 2022

Boris Johnson wants to reduce 'aberration' of high taxes caused by 'fiscal meteorite of COVID' - Sky News

Boris Johnson has said he wants to reduce the "aberration" of current high taxes caused by the "fiscal meteorite of COVID" - as he announced plans to help boost homeownership.

The prime minister appealed to the 41% of Tory MPs who voted to oust him on Monday as he tried to make clear the billions of pounds spent on helping people during the pandemic was not the norm and cannot continue.

But in a bid to also appeal to voters, he announced a review into the mortgage market, said there are plans to extend the right to buy council houses and promised "justice" for tenants.

PM tries to move on from bruising confidence vote - politics live

He blamed the cost-of-living crisis on COVID and the Ukraine war but said the government cannot spend its way out of the situation now we are out of the pandemic.

"The overall burden of taxation is now very high. And sooner or later, and I would much rather it was sooner than later, that burden must come down," he told an audience at a college in Blackpool.

"It's an aberration. The burden of tax caused in no small part by the fiscal meteorite of COVID.

"And it must come down because the answer to the current economic predicament is not more tax and more spending.

"The answer is economic growth. And you can't spend your way out of inflation and you can't tax your way into growth.

"So that's why the time has come for this government to do what it's been straining at the leash to do for two years, but which has been difficult during the COVID crisis.

"And that is to enact the supply-side reforms that will cut the costs of government, cut costs for business and cut costs for people across the country."

Mr Johnson announced a series of plans to help increase home ownership, but there was nothing on how to help people deal with current high household bills as he said the government is already helping with a windfall tax on oil and gas companies and a reduction in fuel tax.

Among the plans Mr Johnson announced, were:

• The government is launching a "comprehensive" review of the mortgage market that will report back this autumn to figure out how best to access low deposit mortgages

• The review will look at how other countries do this and claimed this would be "unbolting the door to home ownership"

• In what Mr Johnson called the "home ownership revolution", he said the government wants to extend the right to buy council and housing association homes and promised there would be a "one for one replacement" of them when they are sold

• There would be "justice" for both private and social housing tenants by "dealing with the scourge of unfair leasehold terms"

• This would "supercharge" leaseholders' ability to buy their homes' freehold with up to 90% discounts for those "trapped with egregious escalating ground rents"

• Housing support will instead go towards a pot to pay mortgages instead of to landlords of housing association homes

• The government is going to "change the rules on welfare" so those in social housing can put their benefits towards a first mortgage instead of rent

• Ministers will "explore discounting lifetime and help to buy ISA savings" from Universal Credit eligibility rules

• For those who then become unemployed, Mr Johnson said the government will let people access support for paying their mortgage earlier than currently allowed

• The review will look at how the government can use the £30 billion housing benefits bill to build more social homes with the potential of turning them into "right to buy" options.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMifmh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2JvcmlzLWpvaG5zb24td2FudHMtdG8tcmVkdWNlLWFiZXJyYXRpb24tb2YtaGlnaC10YXhlcy1jYXVzZWQtYnktZmlzY2FsLW1ldGVvcml0ZS1vZi1jb3ZpZC0xMjYzMDc1NtIBggFodHRwczovL25ld3Muc2t5LmNvbS9zdG9yeS9hbXAvYm9yaXMtam9obnNvbi13YW50cy10by1yZWR1Y2UtYWJlcnJhdGlvbi1vZi1oaWdoLXRheGVzLWNhdXNlZC1ieS1maXNjYWwtbWV0ZW9yaXRlLW9mLWNvdmlkLTEyNjMwNzU2?oc=5

2022-06-09 14:00:53Z
1464371078

Legal age someone can buy cigarettes should rise by a year every year, review recommends - Sky News

The age at which someone can legally buy cigarettes in England should rise by a year every year until no one can get them, a government-commissioned review has found.

The plans would create a "smoke-free generation", with people under a certain age unable to buy cigarettes and other tobacco products in their lifetime - similar to New Zealand which has banned the sale of cigarettes anyone born after 2008.

Raising the age at which people can buy tobacco products, currently 18, is seen as crucial in order to reach the government's "Smokefree 2030" ambition - defined as less than 5% of the population smoking - but ministers are reportedly split over the plans.

What else does the review recommend?

Increased investment in smoke-free policies
The promotion of vaping
Improved prevention in the NHS

Responding to the review, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the government will "carefully consider" the recommendations set out in the delayed "landmark review" by Dr Javed Khan, the former chief executive of Barnardo's, that was released this morning.

The report found England is currently on track to miss its smoke-free 2030 target "by at least seven years", with the poorest areas in society not meeting it until 2044.

"To have any chance of hitting the smoke-free 2030 target, we need to accelerate the rate of decline of people who smoke, by 40%," the report said.

The government has been urged to ban all online sales of tobacco products, and stop supermarkets from selling them in order to limit the availability of tobacco across the country.

Other recommendations include increasing investment by £125m per year to reach the government's 2030 target, including £70m annually in services to help people to stop smoking.

The report also recommends the NHS offers smokers advice and support to quit "at every interaction they have with health services, whether that be through GPs, hospitals, psychiatrists, midwives, pharmacists, dentists or optometrists".

A rethink of the way cigarette sticks and packets look to reduce their appeal, and a mass media campaign to encourage smokers to quit has also been suggested.

Currently, smoking costs the NHS £2.5bn per year.

Ban 'takes away the rights of adult consumers'

The tobacco industry has spoken out against the potential life ban, with the Tobacco Manufacturers Association saying it takes away the rights of adult consumers and could lead people to illegal and unregulated products.

A spokesperson for the TMA told Sky News: "At the age of 18, adults are well-aware of the risks associated with smoking and should be free to access a legal product.

"Mr Khan's recommendation that the legal age to smoke should be increased by one year, every year, will lead adult smokers towards unregulated and untaxed products from illegal channels.

"Prohibition always has serious unintended consequences and opens the door to the sale of illicit products by criminal gangs, as we saw in South Africa, following a temporary ban on tobacco products.

"Such a ban would also take away the right of adult consumers to make their own choices and sets a worrying precedent. The age at which people can access restricted products such as alcohol, tobacco, vaping, betting and the National Lottery has been standardised at 18 and over.

"Changing this will make enforcement and education much more difficult and present challenges for retailers."

But one tobacco firm 'welcomes' recognition of vaping products

Dr Khan's report also recommends the promotion of vaping, including prescribed vapes, saying: "We know vapes are not a 'silver bullet' nor are they totally risk-free, but the alternative is far worse."

Mr Javid said the government will take forward a range of work on vaping as a substitute for smoking "in due course", in addition to publishing a new tobacco control plan.

Kingsley Wheaton, chief marketing officer at British American Tobacco, said: "To achieve the UK government's smoke-free 2030 target, a holistic approach that recognises the role of reduced-risk tobacco and nicotine products is essential to achieve Tobacco Harm Reduction.

"We welcome further recognition of the potential for vapor products to reduce the harm caused by cigarettes.

"As we are currently reviewing the report in detail, we are unable to comment further at this point."

'Make smoking obsolete'

Dr Khan wrote: "Smoking kills and ruins lives. But it doesn't have to be like that.

"By commissioning this review, the government sent out a powerful message that the status quo is not acceptable. I have taken on that challenge and responded with recommendations that are as comprehensive as they are bold.

"Anything less would have been an abdication of my duty. We now need to make it as hard as possible to smoke, and as easy as possible to quit, leading to a smoke-free generation."

He added: "To truly achieve a smoke-free society in this great country of ours, smoking should be obsolete. I cannot, in all conscience, endorse a strategy that settles for anything less.

"So, I am asking the government to go further than its current ambitions. It needs to go faster. It needs to be bolder. It needs to do more to protect future generations from this highly addictive and deadly product. Along the way, the government should do all it can to dissuade the tobacco industry from selling tobacco products.

"The ambition for tackling smoking should aim for 'net zero' - to make smoking obsolete."

There are a reported six million smokers in England, and 46% of people don't feel the government is doing enough to limit smoking.

Smoking remains the single biggest cause of preventable illness and death, the report said.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMie2h0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2xlZ2FsLWFnZS1zb21lb25lLWNhbi1idXktY2lnYXJldHRlcy1zaG91bGQtcmlzZS1ieS1hLXllYXItZXZlcnkteWVhci1yZXZpZXctcmVjb21tZW5kcy0xMjYzMDQ5ONIBf2h0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2FtcC9sZWdhbC1hZ2Utc29tZW9uZS1jYW4tYnV5LWNpZ2FyZXR0ZXMtc2hvdWxkLXJpc2UtYnktYS15ZWFyLWV2ZXJ5LXllYXItcmV2aWV3LXJlY29tbWVuZHMtMTI2MzA0OTg?oc=5

2022-06-09 11:26:56Z
1460201494

Legal age someone can buy cigarettes should rise by a year every year, review recommends - Sky News

The age at which someone can legally buy cigarettes in England should rise by a year every year until no one can get them, a government-commissioned review has found.

Raising the age at which people can buy tobacco products, currently 18, is seen as crucial in order to reach the government's 'Smokefree 2030' ambition - defined as less than 5% of the population smoking - but ministers are reportedly split over the plans.

What else does the review recommend?

Increased investment in smoke-free policies
The promotion of vaping
Improved prevention in the NHS

Responding to the review, health secretary Sajid Javid said the government will "carefully consider" the recommendations set out in the delayed "landmark review" by Dr Javed Khan, the former chief executive of Barnardo's, that was released this morning.

The report found England is currently on track to miss its smoke-free 2030 target "by at least seven years", with the poorest areas in society not meeting it until 2044.

"To have any chance of hitting the smoke-free 2030 target, we need to accelerate the rate of decline of people who smoke, by 40%," the report said.

The government has been urged to ban all online sales of tobacco products, and stop supermarkets from selling them in order to limit the availability of tobacco across the country.

Other recommendations include increasing investment by £125 million per year to reach the government's 2030 target, including £70 million annually in services to help people to stop smoking.

A rethink of the way cigarette sticks and packets look to reduce their appeal, and a mass media campaign to encourage smokers to quit has also been suggested.

Currently, smoking costs the NHS £2.5 billion per year.

Tobacco firm 'welcomes' recognition of vaping products

Mr Javid said the government will take forward a range of work on vaping as a substitute for smoking "in due course", in addition to publishing a new tobacco control plan.

Kingsley Wheaton, Chief Marketing Officer, at British American Tobacco said: "To achieve the UK Government's smoke-free 2030 target, a holistic approach that recognises the role of reduced-risk tobacco and nicotine products is essential to achieve Tobacco Harm Reduction.

"We welcome further recognition of the potential for vapor products to reduce the harm caused by cigarettes.

"As we are currently reviewing the report in detail, we are unable to comment further at this point."

'I urge the government to make smoking obsolete'

Dr Khan wrote: "Smoking kills and ruins lives. But it doesn't have to be like that.

"Anything less would have been an abdication of my duty. We now need to make it as hard as possible to smoke, and as easy as possible to quit, leading to a smoke-free generation."

He added: "To truly achieve a smoke-free society in this great country of ours, smoking should be obsolete. I cannot, in all conscience, endorse a strategy that settles for anything less.

"The ambition for tackling smoking should aim for 'net zero' - to make smoking obsolete."

There are a reported six million smokers in England, and 46% of people don't feel the government is doing enough to limit smoking.

Smoking remains the single biggest cause of preventable illness and death, the report said.

Adblock test (Why?)

Rabu, 08 Juni 2022

“No suspicious circumstances” as police confirm body found near town centre school - Wrexham.com

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the wrexham area

UPDATE: Sadly police have issued the following statement, circulated locally by Inspector Luke Hughes, “You may be aware that there has been some police activity today in the area of St Marys School / Bellevue park, I can confirm that at around 11:26hrs today (8th June) officers responded to a report of a found body at this location.”

“Initially a police cordon was established but early indications suggest no suspicious circumstances, the body has now been recovered and is pending identification.”

Original information below…

Local police have moved to reassure people as they respond to an unspecified incident near a town centre school.

Wrexham Town officers have said, “Officers are currently responding to an incident in the area of St Mary’s school in Wrexham.

There is no risk or threat to the public or pupils, and our enquires continue.

“We will provide further details in due course.”

No further information has been released yet.

Spotted something? Got a story? Send a Facebook Message | A direct message on Twitter | Email News@Wrexham.com

Get notified about
news from across North Wales

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMifWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LndyZXhoYW0uY29tL25ld3MvcG9saWNlLXNheS1uby1zdXNwaWNpb3VzLWNpcmN1bXN0YW5jZXMtYXMtY29uZmlybS1ib2R5LWZvdW5kLW5lYXItdG93bi1jZW50cmUtc2Nob29sLTIyMDA1NS5odG1s0gEA?oc=5

2022-06-08 14:49:25Z
1460045438

Keep your promise to curb rail strikes, Tories urged - The Times

Ministers should pass a law promised in the Conservative manifesto to limit the fallout of rail strikes that threaten to paralyse the network this month, a senior Tory MP has said.

The party promised in 2019 to introduce a requirement for minimum service during walkouts, which would stop all-out strikes such as those planned on June 21, 23 and 25.

“If that’s the case, then there’s still some trains operating and therefore makes it harder for everything to be ground to a halt,” Huw Merriman, chairman of the transport committee, told Today on BBC Radio 4.

“Bear in mind that we regard rail as an essential service; that’s why we kept it running during the pandemic for key workers. If it was right that we

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiYGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZXRpbWVzLmNvLnVrL2FydGljbGUva2VlcC15b3VyLXByb21pc2UtdG8tY3VyYi1yYWlsLXN0cmlrZXMtdG9yaWVzLXVyZ2VkLXQyenA1d3BtNdIBAA?oc=5

2022-06-08 15:05:00Z
1460570283

Jumat, 10 Juni 2022

More on Ukraine

Related Topics:

More on Manchester

Related Topics:

Kamis, 09 Juni 2022

More on Boris Johnson

Related Topics:

More on Smoking

Related Topics:

More on Smoking

Related Topics:

Rabu, 08 Juni 2022