11/10/2010
Other UK News In Brief
Drug Seized In Post
A dangerous hallucinogenic drug has been stopped from reaching the UK's streets by UK Border Agency officers based at a major postal sorting office in Coventy. Fifteen separate packages of DMT, (also known as Dimethyltryptamine) totalling over 125kg and worth around £13 million, have been seized in the past few months. The parcels were sent from countries in South America and were destined for addresses across the UK. Local police forces are now taking forward investigations.
Rescuers Praised
A four-man Search and Rescue (SAR) crew from 771 Naval Air Squadron at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose have been given a special honour for a dramatic and daring rescue of fishermen in rough seas. The crew of 'Rescue 193' were recently awarded the Edward and Maisie Lewis Award from the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society, which is presented, to crews for outstanding rescues. The event happened on New Year's Eve in 2009. Rescue 193 had been on shift for seven hours when the call came to scramble and get airborne to assist a middle-aged female casualty with a suspected cardiac arrest at Porthtowan, Cornwall.
Pop Star Freed
George Michael has been released from prison in Suffolk after four weeks. The 47-year-old pop star was freed from Highpoint Prison after crashing his car while high on cannabis. He was jailed on September 14 after he admitted driving while unfit through drugs and possessing two cannabis cigarettes. He was found slumped at the wheel of a car after it smashed into a branch of photo store Snappy Snaps in north London in July.
Gas Fitter Fraud
A man who falsely claimed to be a registered gas engineer has been fined for illegally installing gas appliances. Bennett Morley of Haxby, York, was prosecuted by The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for five offences under Gas Safety legislation after complaints by householders. York Magistrates Court heard Mr Morley carried out gas work while not being competent to do so, and for falsely claiming to be officially registered. The court was told the offences involved installation of gas boilers in two properties in York in late 2008 and again in summer 2009. The work was so poor that complaints were made by householders and remedial work had to be carried out by a registered gas engineer. Morley pleaded guilty to all the offences and was fined a total of £500 with £500 toward costs.
Funding For UK Films
The trade body for independent producers, Pact, has said the recent confirmation of Government support for its UK Independent Movies Pavilion at two major international trade fairs from now until 2012 is great news for boosting exports and enabling independent producers to invest in quality UK programming. The UK Indies Pavilion, present at MIPTV and MIPCOM since 2005 and co-ordinated by Pact, is an umbrella stand for up to 30 UK independent production companies and offers support in terms of cutting edge meeting and digital screening facilities, market support, pre market briefings and networking events. It has been funded by UKTI and various other screen agencies and typically generates millions of pounds in sales. The last market (MIPTV 2010) generated more than £10 million of sales by just 21 of the companies who attended.
(BMcC/KMcA)
A dangerous hallucinogenic drug has been stopped from reaching the UK's streets by UK Border Agency officers based at a major postal sorting office in Coventy. Fifteen separate packages of DMT, (also known as Dimethyltryptamine) totalling over 125kg and worth around £13 million, have been seized in the past few months. The parcels were sent from countries in South America and were destined for addresses across the UK. Local police forces are now taking forward investigations.
Rescuers Praised
A four-man Search and Rescue (SAR) crew from 771 Naval Air Squadron at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose have been given a special honour for a dramatic and daring rescue of fishermen in rough seas. The crew of 'Rescue 193' were recently awarded the Edward and Maisie Lewis Award from the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society, which is presented, to crews for outstanding rescues. The event happened on New Year's Eve in 2009. Rescue 193 had been on shift for seven hours when the call came to scramble and get airborne to assist a middle-aged female casualty with a suspected cardiac arrest at Porthtowan, Cornwall.
Pop Star Freed
George Michael has been released from prison in Suffolk after four weeks. The 47-year-old pop star was freed from Highpoint Prison after crashing his car while high on cannabis. He was jailed on September 14 after he admitted driving while unfit through drugs and possessing two cannabis cigarettes. He was found slumped at the wheel of a car after it smashed into a branch of photo store Snappy Snaps in north London in July.
Gas Fitter Fraud
A man who falsely claimed to be a registered gas engineer has been fined for illegally installing gas appliances. Bennett Morley of Haxby, York, was prosecuted by The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for five offences under Gas Safety legislation after complaints by householders. York Magistrates Court heard Mr Morley carried out gas work while not being competent to do so, and for falsely claiming to be officially registered. The court was told the offences involved installation of gas boilers in two properties in York in late 2008 and again in summer 2009. The work was so poor that complaints were made by householders and remedial work had to be carried out by a registered gas engineer. Morley pleaded guilty to all the offences and was fined a total of £500 with £500 toward costs.
Funding For UK Films
The trade body for independent producers, Pact, has said the recent confirmation of Government support for its UK Independent Movies Pavilion at two major international trade fairs from now until 2012 is great news for boosting exports and enabling independent producers to invest in quality UK programming. The UK Indies Pavilion, present at MIPTV and MIPCOM since 2005 and co-ordinated by Pact, is an umbrella stand for up to 30 UK independent production companies and offers support in terms of cutting edge meeting and digital screening facilities, market support, pre market briefings and networking events. It has been funded by UKTI and various other screen agencies and typically generates millions of pounds in sales. The last market (MIPTV 2010) generated more than £10 million of sales by just 21 of the companies who attended.
(BMcC/KMcA)
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26 August 2014
200 Homes Still Without Gas After Water Leak
Around 200 homes in Wales are still without gas after a burst water pipe flooded gas lines last Thursday. Wales and West Utilities have said that some 150,000 litres of water has been pumped from gas pipes since last Thursday, with 540 of the 755 homes affected by the leak, now reconnected.
200 Homes Still Without Gas After Water Leak
Around 200 homes in Wales are still without gas after a burst water pipe flooded gas lines last Thursday. Wales and West Utilities have said that some 150,000 litres of water has been pumped from gas pipes since last Thursday, with 540 of the 755 homes affected by the leak, now reconnected.
31 July 2008
Centrica Posts £1 Million In Profits - To Consumers Anger
British Gas owner Centrica has posted half-year profits of almost £1 billion - much to the anger of consumer groups. Centrica maintain that it has been "absolutely necessary" to raise household gas prices as profits were down 20% in the first six months of this year to £992 million - down from £1.23 billion in 2007.
Centrica Posts £1 Million In Profits - To Consumers Anger
British Gas owner Centrica has posted half-year profits of almost £1 billion - much to the anger of consumer groups. Centrica maintain that it has been "absolutely necessary" to raise household gas prices as profits were down 20% in the first six months of this year to £992 million - down from £1.23 billion in 2007.
11 August 2015
Men Jailed After Travelling To UK For Revenge Attack
Two Slovakian men have been jailed after travelling to the UK to carry out a revenge attack on the new boyfriend of one of their former partners. The men, 24-year-old Robert Stehlik and 41-year-old Milos Bellan, were arrested when they arrived on a ferry from Calais into Dover in the early hours of 13 January, 2015.
Men Jailed After Travelling To UK For Revenge Attack
Two Slovakian men have been jailed after travelling to the UK to carry out a revenge attack on the new boyfriend of one of their former partners. The men, 24-year-old Robert Stehlik and 41-year-old Milos Bellan, were arrested when they arrived on a ferry from Calais into Dover in the early hours of 13 January, 2015.
23 July 2013
SNP Lay Out Oil And Gas Plan For Independent Scotland
The Scottish government have announced it will establish an expert commission to look at maximising returns from North Sea oil and gas for an independent Scotland. The SNP have published a paper detailing the administration's plan for the industry in an independent Scotland, highlighting that it would not increase the sectors tax burden.
SNP Lay Out Oil And Gas Plan For Independent Scotland
The Scottish government have announced it will establish an expert commission to look at maximising returns from North Sea oil and gas for an independent Scotland. The SNP have published a paper detailing the administration's plan for the industry in an independent Scotland, highlighting that it would not increase the sectors tax burden.
04 December 2014
British Gas To Pay £11.1m For Failing To Meet Environmental Obligations
An energy firm has been ordered to pay £11.1m to Ofgem to benefit vulnerable consumers. British Gas failed to meet its environmental obligations under the Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP) and Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) by the 2012 deadline, according to an Ofgem Investigation.
British Gas To Pay £11.1m For Failing To Meet Environmental Obligations
An energy firm has been ordered to pay £11.1m to Ofgem to benefit vulnerable consumers. British Gas failed to meet its environmental obligations under the Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP) and Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) by the 2012 deadline, according to an Ofgem Investigation.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
