Crew Rescued After Car Carrier Runs Aground

A&E Waiting Times Set To Be Worst For Decade

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 06 Januari 2015 | 12.27

Accident and Emergency departments in England have fallen to a new low for waiting times over the festive period, figures are expected to reveal later.

Already this winter has seen waiting times in A&E departments hit record levels, with many hospitals failing to meet the target of dealing with 95% of patients within four hours.

The latest figures, which cover October to December, are expected to be the worst since this target was introduced a decade ago.

Once all beds are full, ambulance queues build up outside departments with patients waiting on trolleys for extended periods of time before they are seen by doctors.

The new figures are to be released by NHS England as emergency units up and down the country struggle to deal with a surge in demand.

The University Hospitals of North Midlands, which operates in Staffordshire, has declared a major incident because of unprecedented demand for healthcare services.

It follows a similar decision by Scarborough Hospital in North Yorkshire, and hospitals in Cheltenham and Gloucester which have also activated major incident plans.

Last month, Sir Bruce Keogh, the medical director of the NHS in England, admitted Accident and Emergency departments were under pressure.

"The system is creaking, it is under pressure at the moment," he said.

"A&Es are having to address increasing demand, the ambulance services are struggling in many parts of the country and we have a number of issues to deal with, which we are tackling."

12.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Father's Perilous Missions To Save Syria Jihadis

By Mark White, Home Affairs Correspondent

A father who rescued his own jihadi son from the clutches of Syrian rebels is now travelling back to the country to track down other young foreign fighters.

Dimitri Bontinck risked his life on a perilous 10-month quest to find his teenage son, travelling to Syria three times before the pair were eventually reunited in late 2013.

Despite the continuing danger, the former Belgian soldier is now helping other families, including some from the UK, in the search for their loved ones in the war-torn country.

Mr Bontinck told Sky News: "I have no other choice than to help those going through the same kind of trauma and nightmare I experienced."

He claims the Belgian, British and many other western governments are adding to that trauma by refusing to help in the search for those who have gone to Syria and Iraq - and for criminalising those who return from the region.

"It's so sad that parents like me and so many thousands of parents worldwide are standing alone, that nobody's helping them. It's disgusting really, it's selfish," he said.

Mr Bontinck claims he approached the police and other agencies in Belgium on numerous occasions after his son Jejoen converted to Islam and later began to show signs of radicalisation.

"We asked for help from everyone, from the police, from the authorities and youth organisations ... because we see that something is going wrong, we see that it's no good for his future - and they were just watching," he said.

"The reply from all those we asked for help was the same: 'We are living in a democracy, you have freedom of speech, you have freedom of religion'. So it was very sad for us."

Jejoen Bontinck was a popular teenager in his native Antwerp, an accomplished breakdancer who appeared in a number of music videos, but according to his parents he became increasingly radical in his religious and political views and eventually ran off to join rebel groups in Syria.

After the Belgian authorities told him they were unable to help track down his son, Dimitri Bontinck took the extraordinary decision to travel to the region himself to try to find the teenager.

"I followed a father's instinct, I followed my heart. I couldn't stay here just watching, not taking action and responsibility," he said.

On repeated trips to Syria he befriended local people and many rebel fighters who helped in the search for his son. "It was a danger mission, believe me. I risked my life and met many fighting groups. At times, there were snipers above my head; bombs and attacks."

Although the vast majority of rebel fighters he met were very friendly, Dimitri said he was held captive at one point, suspected of spying. "They put a cap over my head and handcuffed me. They were beating me on the head and I was thinking 'Is it all worth it?'

"Then another part of me thought 'I believe in my son, there is love for my son, if there is a God, they'll release me.' And they did."

On his third trip to Syria, he was reunited with his son, who he claimed was happy to return to Belgium because he realised he had been "naive" and that he "had been used" by others.

Dimitri Bontinck says he is in contact with dozens of other families and is now actively trying to help them find their loved ones.

Ozana Rodrigues, whose son ran off to fight with Islamic State in Syria more than a year ago, said Dimitri was the only person willing to help her.

In a cafe in central Antwerp, she told Sky News: "Dimitri talks to people, parents that have lost their kids - but the authorities don't want to help. They don't care and there is no support, while we're suffering."

She said Dimitri had made contact with her son Brian, but that so far, he is refusing to return home.

"When Dimitri went to Syria to get his son, I was praying to God that he would see my son and bring him back but it didn't work out that way," she said.

Although Dimitri's son is safely back in Antwerp, the 19-year-old is now at the centre of a huge terrorism trial in Belgium, one of more than 40 people being prosecuted for membership of a banned organisation.

His father is deeply critical of the Belgian government's decision to prosecute.

"With this wrong attitude and stigmatisation they're creating more frustration against the West," he said.

"They're creating more violence against the West. It's totally wrong."

Despite the prospect that other young Europeans he rescues from Syria will also be prosecuted, Dimitri Bontinck said he still feels compelled to help.

"I thought I would never return to Syria, but when mothers are calling me and crying on the phone because nobody's helping them ... when they ask to meet me, I'm not going to say no," he said.

Dimitri Bontinck has now risked his life eight times travelling to Syria. He has just returned from his latest trip there and says he plans to return to the region again in the weeks ahead.

12.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Second Palace Denial Over Andrew Sex Claims

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 04 Januari 2015 | 12.27

Buckingham Palace has issued a second denial over a woman's claims she was forced to have underage sex with the Duke of York.

It has branded the allegations "false and without any foundation".

The denial comes after two Sunday newspapers published details of interviews with the woman, who reportedly named Prince Andrew in US court documents.

The palace said on Friday that "any suggestion of impropriety with under-age minors" by him was "categorically untrue".

In the second statement, a spokesman said: "It is emphatically denied that the Duke of York had any form of sexual contact or relationship with (the woman).

"The allegations made are false and without any foundation."

The woman's claim is part of a lawsuit in connection with American billionaire and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein - a former friend of the Duke.

Andrew was photographed with Epstein in New York two years after his release from prison in 2009, and has faced criticism over their friendship.

In an interview in 2011 he denied any sexual contact with any of the young women connected to the banker.

The woman claims that between 1999 and 2002 she "was forced to have sexual relations with this prince when she was a minor" in London, New York and on a private Caribbean island owned by Epstein.

She is believed to have been 17 at the time - underage in US law.

The accusation is reportedly contained in a motion filed in a Florida court this week which is part of a lawsuit over how prosecutors handled Epstein's case.

The Mail on Sunday and the Sunday Mirror have since published details of interviews given by the woman in recent years, in which she discusses three alleged encounters with the Duke.

According to the Sunday Express, Andrew was due to fly back to Britain later following a ski trip in Switzerland.

Epstein was convicted in 2008 and spent 13 months in jail after he admitted having sex with a 14-year-old.

He had been investigated for paying underage girls to have sex with him at his luxury Palm Beach home - and 40 women had come forward as victims.

However, he cut a deal with federal prosecutors and the charges were not progressed.

Two of his victims have now brought a case against the prosecutors, claiming their rights were violated because they were not consulted on the secret deal.

The woman, referred to as Jane Doe 3 in documents, has applied to the court to be included in the lawsuit.

12.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Crew Rescued After Car Carrier Runs Aground

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

Lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter have rescued all 25 crew from the water and on board a car carrier which became grounded off the Isle of Wight.

The Hoegh Osaka got into difficulty at Bramble Bank in the central Solent at around 9.20pm on Saturday and began listing.

National Maritime Operations Centre commander Steve Carson said: "All of the crew have been accounted for and other than a couple of non life-threatening injuries, everyone is safe and well."

HM Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the search and rescue mission was co-ordinated by the National Maritime Operations Centre at Fareham.

It said three crew members who remained on board the cargo ship to assist with salvage operations have also been airlifted off the vessel.

Four RNLI lifeboats from Calshot, Cowes and Yarmouth were involved in the rescue mission alongside the Solent Coastguard Helicopter, Southampton Patrol and four tug boats, two from Esso and two from Southampton Docks.

1/4

Gallery: Ship Beached In The Solent

The car carrier ship became grounded on Bramble Bank in the Solent at around 9.20pm on Saturday and is listing at 45 degrees. Pic: Jamie Griffin/M & Y News Agency, Portsmouth

Twenty-five crew were rescued by a coastguard helicopter and lifeboats. Picture: Andy Merrill

]]>

The 180-metre cargo ship is beached about three-quarters of the way from the Isle of Wight to the mainland.

]]>

It is not yet clear how the ship managed to get into difficulty. Picture: Andy Merrill

]]>

Lucy Morgan, a reporter at Isle of Wight Radio, said the 180-metre vessel is currently beached about three-quarters of the way from the Isle of Wight to the mainland.

She told Sky News: "What we understand happened is that it ran aground at Bramble Bank. At low tide it becomes so low that at some times of the year people actually play cricket on Bramble Bank, and it seems to have become stuck in the middle of the Solent where it is now listing very badly to its starboard side.

"This is the part of the Solent where Cowes Week runs... where a lot of boating takes place, so to see a cargo ship as big as this in this situation is extremely rare and very unusual."

It is not yet clear how the cargo ship, which reportedly left Southampton on Saturday evening, managed to get into difficulty.

Mr Carson said the ship has been listing at 45 degrees and plans for salvage were under way.

"Indeed the investigation will follow and the authorities have been informed at this time. I will not speculate on the circumstances," he said.

"The salvage operations have commences, not the removal of the vessel but the plans for its removal. We will have to wait until daylight to fully assess.

"The owners have appointed salvage operators and did so quite swiftly."

Recommended by Outbrain Recommended by Outbrain

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 03 Januari 2015 | 12.27

Buckingham Palace has issued a strongly worded denial of allegations that Prince Andrew was involved in "impropriety with underage minors".

The statement was released after the Duke of York was named in a US lawsuit.

The woman who has made the allegations claims the disgraced US banker Jeffrey Epstein loaned her out to his friends, including Prince Andrew.

Papers filed by her lawyers say she was held as a "sex slave" by Epstein from 1999 through 2002 after he "became enamoured" with her.

In the motion filed in a court in Florida, she claims she was "forced to have sexual relations with this prince when she was a minor" in London, New York and on a private Caribbean island. She is believed to have been 17 at the time - underage according to US law.

The document continues: "Epstein instructed Jane Doe #3 that she was to give the Prince whatever he demanded and required Jane Doe #3 to report back to him on the details of the sexual abuse."

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous and is referred to as Jane Doe 3 in documents, says Epstein, who has been jailed for having sex with a 14-year-old, forced her to have sexual encounters against her will between 1999 and 2002.

In the papers, she claims she was effectively recruited for Epstein's use by Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of the late media tycoon Robert Maxwell, when she was 15 years old.

And it is claimed in the court document that Ms Maxwell "was one of the main women whom Epstein used to procure under-aged girls for sexual activities".

The document also claims Epstein's "purposes in 'lending' Jane Doe to such powerful people were to ingratiate himself with them for business, personal, political and financial gain, as well as to obtain potential blackmail information".

Buckingham Palace said: "This relates to long-standing and ongoing civil proceedings in the United States, to which the Duke of York is not a party. As such we would not comment in detail. However, for the avoidance of doubt, any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors is categorically untrue."

Prince Andrew's friendship with Epstein is well-documented and in an interview in 2011 he denied any sexual contact with any of the young women connected to the multi-millionaire banker.

Sky News Correspondent Rhiannon Mills said: "It's important to point out that we have in the past seen Prince Andrew criticised for spending time with Epstein, including in December 2010 after he was released from prison."

Epstein was jailed in 2008 and spent 13 months in jail after admitting to having sex with a 14-year-old.

He had been investigated for paying underage girls to have sex with him at his luxury Palm Beach home - and 40 women had come forward as victims.

However, he cut a deal with federal prosecutors and the charges were not progressed.

Two of his victims have now brought a case against the prosecutors claiming their rights were violated because they were not consulted on the secret deal.

Jane Doe 3 has applied to the court to be included in the lawsuit against the federal prosecutor and it is in the legal document to join the case that she makes the allegations against the Duke of York.

Sky News has attempted to reach Ms Maxwell for a response to the latest allegations.

When claims about the nature of her relationship with Epstein were reported in 2011, her lawyers issued a statement describing them as "entirely false".

12.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Two Big Objects Found In AirAsia Plane Search

Two "large objects" have been spotted in the Java Sea around 90ft (30m) underwater, says the man leading the hunt for the AirAsia plane that crashed six days ago.

Fransiskus Bambang Soelistyo, chief of Indonesia's Search and Rescue Agency, told reporters: "I'm confident this is part of the AirAsia plane."

He said the agency was trying to get images of the objects for confirmation using remotely operated underwater vehicles, but high waves and strong currents were hampering efforts.

One of the objects measured at 31ft by 15ft (9.4m by 4.8m), Mr Soelistyo said. The second, found nearby, was 24ft (7.2m) by 20 ins (0.5m).

Flight QZ8501 disappeared from radar screens over the Java Sea while en route from Indonesia's second-biggest city Surabaya to Singapore with 162 people on board.

So far, the bodies of 30 victims have been recovered from the sea. No survivors have been found.

Some of the bodies were discovered still strapped into their aircraft seats, officials involved in the search said.

Among the victims recovered were two children, according to reports. Only four have been identified and their bodies returned to their families.

There are now 65 ships, 14 planes and 19 helicopters involved in the search and rescue mission.

The Singaporean defence minister Ng Eng Hen posted pictures of window panels recovered from the sea on his Facebook page on Friday morning.

He wrote: "RSS Supreme recovered a piece of an aircraft this morning, likely to be a window panel. They have informed the Indonesian search authorities and will be handing over the item."

Sonar equipment and metal detectors are being used to try to discover the black box, which will help investigators establish what caused the plane to smash into the sea.

Bad weather is known to have contributed to the disaster, which came half way through the short haul flight.

The pilot had asked air traffic control for permission to climb the Airbus A320 to a higher altitude to avoid storm clouds but heavy air traffic meant this request was denied.

The black box data recorder contains crucial information such as engine temperature, vertical and horizontal speed.

The search team is also hunting for the voice recorder, which will have captured conversations between the pilot and others in the cockpit.

Mr Soelistyo estimated the fuselage would be lying at a depth of between 80ft-100ft (25m and 30m)

The victims identified and returned to their families are Hayati Lutfiah Hamid, flight attendant Khairunisa Haidar Fauzi and passengers Kevin Alexander Soetjipto and Grayson Herbert Linaksita.

12.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

One Dead, Several Hurt In Pub Axe Attack

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 02 Januari 2015 | 12.27

One man is dead and several people have been injured following an axe and knife attack, police have said.

Officers were called to a "major disturbance" at The Kings Arms in Tamerton Foliot, Plymouth, Devon, at 1.30am New Year's Day.

Several callers told 999 emergency operators that a man had a knife and an axe - and there were more calls later about disorder.

A 27-year-old man was found seriously injured at the scene and taken to Derriford Hospital by ambulance.

He was confirmed dead on arrival.

Two other men were taken to the hospital with knife injuries.

An axe was recovered at the scene and officers are still looking for a knife, with a spokesman saying: "We are asking local residents to keep an eye out for anything discarded in their bins or gardens that seems suspicious and to call police if anything is found."

Two men, aged 20 and 21, both from Plymouth, have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Devon and Cornwall Police said both suspects are being detained at Charles Cross Police Station in Plymouth.

Detective Superintendent Jim Colwell told Sky News the investigation was "very much in the early stages".

"Over the next 24 to 48 hours we hope to have a much better understanding of exactly what happened," he said.

He added: "We are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or who was in the Tamerton Foliot area between 1-2am this morning to contact the police on 101.

"We have established a cordon at Station Road to assist with scene investigation and our officers will be active in the area throughout the day conducting enquiries."

A statement posted on The Kings Arms' Facebook page said: "On New Year's Eve a terrible attack was made on a lovely group of people on the way home from a great night in our pub.

"It was an unprovoked violent attack with tragic consequences. That I feel devastated is an absolute understatement.

"I wish all the families of those involved my deepest deepest sympathy, not that this will help them in any way now but I wish I could turn back the clock so that these events would not occur."

One Tamerton Foliot resident told the Plymouth Herald: "I've lived here for 44 years, and things like this don't happen.

"We have a very good relationship with the police here and it will have a big impact on the community."

Another resident said: "The police stopped us at each point on the way back into the village. By the time we had come back the incident was over.

"I was quite glad we weren't out in the village. It's a very close community and everyone says hello to each other and stops to chat. It's a big shock."

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who was in the area during this time are asked to contact police on 101 quoting police log 169 01/01/15, or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

12.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Three Dead Amid Fears Of Bad Ecstasy Batch

Three people have died and one person is in hospital as police warn of a "dangerous batch of drugs" - believed to be ecstasy.

A man in his 20s died on Thursday morning after being found seriously unwell in Rendlesham, Suffolk.

He received treatment at the property on Chestnut Close but could not be saved.

Two and a half hours later, at 9.40am, ambulance crews treated two more men at Provan Court, Ipswich.

One died at the scene, the other was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

The second dead man is also thought to be in his 20s.

Police are linking them to another suspected drugs-related death in Ipswich on Christmas Eve.

Chief Inspector Steve Denham told Sky News: "It's too soon to definitively link [all] the cases but we believe three of the young men have taken a tablet which they believed to be ecstasy.

"Three of them describe a red triangular pill with a Superman 'S' symbol embossed on the front.

"We're really concerned there's a batch of those pills."

He added: "If you have been offered drugs in the Ipswich area over the past few weeks, in particular ecstasy, we'd urge you to contact us with any information so that we can find those responsible and remove these dangerous drugs from the streets."

Chief Inspector Denham said the man taken to hospital was "thankfully doing better now".

Officers have drawn a link between the drugs and dangerous pills with a similar appearance sold in the Netherlands last month.

Those tablets had a large concentration of PMMA, which acts more slowly than MDMA, the main component of ecstasy.

This causes people to take more pills because they think they are not working.

PMMA can cause high body temperature and an increased heart rate.

12.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

35 Killed In New Year's Stampede In China

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 01 Januari 2015 | 12.28

Thirty-five people have been killed in a stampede at a New Year's event in Shanghai, city officials have said.

A statement from the Shanghai government confirmed another 43 people were injured in the chaos.

The stampede happened at the city's riverfront Bund area, which is usually jammed with spectators for major events, at 11.35pm (local time), according to the Xinhua news agency.

Photographs on Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter, show one person doing chest compressions on a shirtless individual, while other people lay on the ground nearby.

Another image shows the area ringed by police.

It was not immediately clear what triggered the stampede, but state media and a witness said the incident was caused when people tried picking up fake money thrown from a building.

A man who brought one of the injured to a local hospital for treatment said fake money had been thrown down from a bar above the street as part of a New Year's celebration.

People rushed to pick up the money, triggering the stampede, said the man, who declined to be identified.

Angry family members clashed with security guards at a hospital where some of the victims were taken.

Authorities had shown some concern about crowd control in the days leading up to New Year's Eve.

They had cancelled an annual 3D laser show on the Bund that last year attracted around 300,000 people.

The historic riverfront strip runs along an area of narrow streets surrounded by restored old buildings, shops and tourist attractions.

12.28 | 0 komentar | Read More

Millions Across UK Welcome 2015 With A Bang

Millions of people around the UK have celebrated the arrival of 2015, including with spectacular fireworks displays in London and Edinburgh.

In the capital, hundreds of thousands of people lined the River Thames for an 11-minute display timed to the midnight bongs of Big Ben.

The show featured a commemoration of the WW1 centenary, with bursts of red fireworks representing poppies and the world's highest ever New Year countdown beamed from the Shard.

Tickets were introduced for the first time for the event on the South Bank, with numbers kept to 100,000.

They were first made available to the public in September, with a staggered release to ensure multiple opportunities to secure a place on the night.

The scheme was brought in following consultation with the Metropolitan Police, emergency services, and local authorities, to help manage crowd numbers which have been growing each year - with 500,000 flooding the streets last year.

London mayor Boris Johnson said on Twitter: "London's dazzling fireworks were a wonderful way to welcome in the new year. Thanks to all who made it such a safe & fun event."

Emergency services braced themselves for a busy night, with London Ambulance Service expecting up to 600 calls an hour, operations director Jason Killens said on Twitter.

He said: "Over 100 emergency calls in the first 15 minutes since midnight - its getting busy this London NYE."

Scotland Yard said officers had made 54 arrests by around 2am, with the majority for alcohol-related offences, while Greater Manchester Police said nine people had been arrested at the city's main New Year event.

Up to 75,000 revellers packed into Edinburgh's streets for Hogmanay, one of Europe's biggest New Year's celebrations.

Lily Allen was the headline act at the Concert In The Gardens, with Soul II Soul and Twin Atlantic among acts performing on five live stages throughout the city.

1/25

Gallery: New Year Celebrations Across UK

Fireworks explode around the London Eye on the South Bank as the New Year is ushered in

This year was the first year the fireworks show on the South Bank was ticketed, with 100,000 tickets sold

]]>

12.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Juara Pageone

Mengenai Saya

Popular Posts Today

A&E Waiting Times Set To Be Worst For Decade

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 06 Januari 2015 | 12.27

Father's Perilous Missions To Save Syria Jihadis

Second Palace Denial Over Andrew Sex Claims

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 04 Januari 2015 | 12.27

Crew Rescued After Car Carrier Runs Aground

Top Stories

Top Stories

Palace Denies Prince Andrew Sex Claims

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 03 Januari 2015 | 12.27

Two Big Objects Found In AirAsia Plane Search

One Dead, Several Hurt In Pub Axe Attack

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 02 Januari 2015 | 12.27

Three Dead Amid Fears Of Bad Ecstasy Batch

35 Killed In New Year's Stampede In China

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 01 Januari 2015 | 12.28

Millions Across UK Welcome 2015 With A Bang

Links

Arsip Blog