07/06/2012

Other News In Brief

Fear For London’s Transport System Heightened After Flood

Fears for the resilience of London's transport network during the Olympics have been heightened by the closure of a major tube link to Stratford after flooding.

The Central line, which connects the west end and city to the Olympic Park, was inundated by a burst water main that flooded 800 metres of tracks with 2m litres of water via a ventilation shaft. Hundreds of passengers were stuck on a train for two hours before being led up the tunnel as the service was suspended. One section of the line, including Stratford station, remained closed on Thursday.

Legionnaires’ Outbreak Increases

The number of confirmed and suspected cases in the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Edinburgh has increased to 51.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon revealed the new total in a statement to MSPs at Holyrood.

One man has died in the outbreak. He has been named as Robert Air, 56, from the Seafield area of the capital.

Residents are being leafleted with information on the disease and what they should do if they are worried they could be at risk.

Newspaper Fined For Lawrence Trial Breach

The Spectator has been ordered to pay £5,625 after admitting an article on the trial of Stephen Lawrence's killers breached a court order.

Rod Liddle's article claimed the two defendants would not get a fair trial.

The article appeared after the trial had begun and when judges had already banned reports that could influence the jury's view of the defendants.

The magazine's lawyer apologised unreservedly for its "bitterly regrettable" failure to make checks.


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26 July 2007
Two people die in flooding accident
Two men have died as they attempted to clear flood water from a flooded rugby club in Gloucestershire. It is thought that the two men, reported to be a father and son, were using a petrol-powered pump to clear water from the cellar of Tewkesbury Rugby Club and may have been overcome by petrol fumes.
08 October 2010
Double Jeopardy Reforms Commence
A Bill to reform the centuries-old law which prevents a person being tried twice for the same offence in Scotland has been introduced. The 'double jeopardy' principle dates back over 800 years, but questions have been raised in recent years about whether the law now needs to be updated for the 21st Century.
22 April 2004
Flooding costs set to rise up to '20-fold'
Flooding and coastal erosion damage may rise by between two and 20-fold inside the next 100 years, according to a government report published today.
05 November 2014
NAO Say Govt Flood Defence Spending 'Insufficient'
The National Audit Office (NAO) has warned that the UK's flood defences are likely to "deteriorate faster" as the money being spent on maintaining them is "insufficient". A report from the NAO claims that half of the country's defences received a "minimal level" of maintenance which was insufficient to secure homes.
10 February 2014
UK Floods: Disaster Continues And Thames Reaches Record Levels
Communities along the Thames, particularly in Berkshire and Surrey, are being warned to expect further severe property flooding from the River Thames today and Tuesday, according to the Environment Agency.