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27/07/2011
Other UK News In Brief
Four Tonnes Of Cannabis Seized
Approximately four tonnes of cannabis have been seized following a UK Border Agency operation in the English Channel. Agency cutters HMC Valiant and HMC Searcher intercepted a Dutch-registered yacht in UK waters off the coast of Sussex in the early hours of Sunday. The vessel was escorted into Newhaven habour and was searched by UK Border Agency officers. The drugs discovered on board have an estimated street value of around £12 million. Four men have been charged with the importation of controlled drugs. David Smith, UK Border Agency Regional Deputy Director, said: “The UK Border Agency's fleet of cutters play a vital role in securing the border. They are on constant alert around the UK coastline to keep illegal drugs and other banned substances out of the UK. We are determined to prevent this terrible trade which can have such a destructive impact on the lives of so many.”
Aquatics Centre Unveiled As Main Olympic Park Venues Completed
With exactly a year to go until the start of the London 2012 Games, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has announced that the Aquatics Centre is now complete, the last of the six main Olympic Park venues to finish construction. The Olympic Stadium, Velodrome, Handball Arena, Basketball Arena and the International Broadcast Centre were all completed earlier this year. The Aquatics Centre is being unveiled today with British Olympic hopeful Tom Daley making the first dive into the pool this evening. Back in July 2006, the ODA set out a challenging brief to clean and clear the Olympic Park site and build the new venues and infrastructure needed in time for test events by the summer of 2011 - a year before the Games. This has now been achieved on time, to budget, with a safety record far better than the industry average, and by setting new standards in sustainability and accessible design. Double Commonwealth Gold medallist and 2012 hopeful Tom Daley said: “Marking the 1 year to go, by diving in the Aquatics Centre is an incredible honour. Only a few years ago, this was a distant dream. The fact that I qualified at the weekend and am taking the first dive is a complete privilege. I can't wait for next year and the honour of representing Team GB.”
Speed Cameras In Urban Areas Save Millions In Cash
The deployment of speed cameras in urban areas saves vast amounts of money as well as lives, reveals a two year financial analysis, published online in Injury Prevention. Injury is the leading cause of death among people up to the age of 45 worldwide, with injuries sustained as a result of road traffic accidents accounting for more premature deaths than either heart disease or cancer. Around 1.3 million people die every year, and between 20 and 50 million people become permanently disabled, as a result of injuries sustained in road traffic accidents. The authors base their findings on the impact of speed cameras, which were first deployed on the major access routes in and out of Barcelona, Spain in 2003. They assessed the cost effectiveness of these speed cameras between 2003 and 2005, taking account of the initial cost to install and operate them, and those costs attributable to police time, ticketing, and photography for motorists exceeding the prescribed speed limit. These figures were then set against the costs of medical treatment, damages to property and lost productivity, calculated from figures derived from road traffic accident data in the city of Barcelona for 2003 and 2004. Based on previous data, it was estimated that there would be 364 fewer road traffic accidents and 507 fewer people injured during the first two years of speed camera operation. When all these figures were taken together, the authors calculated that the net savings made amounted to 6.8 million Euros, equivalent to £5.96 million, over two years, the bulk of which came from savings on medical treatment and property damage costs. The authors emphasise that these are minimum costs, and that the savings, are in fact, likely to have been greater - as much as 23 million Euros (£20.17 million). “Our results show that the installation of speed cameras on the beltways of Barcelona has net benefits for society even under fairly conservative assumptions,” they say, adding that their findings back previous cost-benefit analyses carried out in Canada and the UK.
(BMcN)
Approximately four tonnes of cannabis have been seized following a UK Border Agency operation in the English Channel. Agency cutters HMC Valiant and HMC Searcher intercepted a Dutch-registered yacht in UK waters off the coast of Sussex in the early hours of Sunday. The vessel was escorted into Newhaven habour and was searched by UK Border Agency officers. The drugs discovered on board have an estimated street value of around £12 million. Four men have been charged with the importation of controlled drugs. David Smith, UK Border Agency Regional Deputy Director, said: “The UK Border Agency's fleet of cutters play a vital role in securing the border. They are on constant alert around the UK coastline to keep illegal drugs and other banned substances out of the UK. We are determined to prevent this terrible trade which can have such a destructive impact on the lives of so many.”
Aquatics Centre Unveiled As Main Olympic Park Venues Completed
With exactly a year to go until the start of the London 2012 Games, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has announced that the Aquatics Centre is now complete, the last of the six main Olympic Park venues to finish construction. The Olympic Stadium, Velodrome, Handball Arena, Basketball Arena and the International Broadcast Centre were all completed earlier this year. The Aquatics Centre is being unveiled today with British Olympic hopeful Tom Daley making the first dive into the pool this evening. Back in July 2006, the ODA set out a challenging brief to clean and clear the Olympic Park site and build the new venues and infrastructure needed in time for test events by the summer of 2011 - a year before the Games. This has now been achieved on time, to budget, with a safety record far better than the industry average, and by setting new standards in sustainability and accessible design. Double Commonwealth Gold medallist and 2012 hopeful Tom Daley said: “Marking the 1 year to go, by diving in the Aquatics Centre is an incredible honour. Only a few years ago, this was a distant dream. The fact that I qualified at the weekend and am taking the first dive is a complete privilege. I can't wait for next year and the honour of representing Team GB.”
Speed Cameras In Urban Areas Save Millions In Cash
The deployment of speed cameras in urban areas saves vast amounts of money as well as lives, reveals a two year financial analysis, published online in Injury Prevention. Injury is the leading cause of death among people up to the age of 45 worldwide, with injuries sustained as a result of road traffic accidents accounting for more premature deaths than either heart disease or cancer. Around 1.3 million people die every year, and between 20 and 50 million people become permanently disabled, as a result of injuries sustained in road traffic accidents. The authors base their findings on the impact of speed cameras, which were first deployed on the major access routes in and out of Barcelona, Spain in 2003. They assessed the cost effectiveness of these speed cameras between 2003 and 2005, taking account of the initial cost to install and operate them, and those costs attributable to police time, ticketing, and photography for motorists exceeding the prescribed speed limit. These figures were then set against the costs of medical treatment, damages to property and lost productivity, calculated from figures derived from road traffic accident data in the city of Barcelona for 2003 and 2004. Based on previous data, it was estimated that there would be 364 fewer road traffic accidents and 507 fewer people injured during the first two years of speed camera operation. When all these figures were taken together, the authors calculated that the net savings made amounted to 6.8 million Euros, equivalent to £5.96 million, over two years, the bulk of which came from savings on medical treatment and property damage costs. The authors emphasise that these are minimum costs, and that the savings, are in fact, likely to have been greater - as much as 23 million Euros (£20.17 million). “Our results show that the installation of speed cameras on the beltways of Barcelona has net benefits for society even under fairly conservative assumptions,” they say, adding that their findings back previous cost-benefit analyses carried out in Canada and the UK.
(BMcN)
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01 August 2011
Early Measures Will Help SMEs Access Equity Financing
The Financial Secretary to the Treasury has announced that two deregulatory amendments to the EU Prospectus Directive have been brought into effect a year early by the UK to help small businesses access equity finance more cheaply and effectively.
Early Measures Will Help SMEs Access Equity Financing
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25 September 2008
'Crazy' EU Laws Force Scottish Boats To Dump Fish
Fishermen in Scotland are being forced to throw away up to £40 million worth of fish every year, as a result of "crazy European regulations".
'Crazy' EU Laws Force Scottish Boats To Dump Fish
Fishermen in Scotland are being forced to throw away up to £40 million worth of fish every year, as a result of "crazy European regulations".
16 May 2008
BA Announce Soaring Profits
British Airways has announced a significant rise in profits despite the botched opening of Terminal 5. BA has reported that revenue is up 3.1% to £8,753 and two million passengers have passed through T5 since it's opening. Staff are also set to share a £35 million bonus. BA say that they expect revenue for the full year to be up by around 4%.
BA Announce Soaring Profits
British Airways has announced a significant rise in profits despite the botched opening of Terminal 5. BA has reported that revenue is up 3.1% to £8,753 and two million passengers have passed through T5 since it's opening. Staff are also set to share a £35 million bonus. BA say that they expect revenue for the full year to be up by around 4%.
17 September 2003
'Modest' inroads made into reducing truancy
Figures released today have revealed that truancy rates for school children registering a "modest improvement". The headline rate of unauthorised absence declined, with around 700 fewer pupils playing truant each day. Up to 133 of 150 local education authorities have also reported an improvement in attendance at secondary level.
'Modest' inroads made into reducing truancy
Figures released today have revealed that truancy rates for school children registering a "modest improvement". The headline rate of unauthorised absence declined, with around 700 fewer pupils playing truant each day. Up to 133 of 150 local education authorities have also reported an improvement in attendance at secondary level.
01 September 2003
Taskforce to tackle £400 million film piracy racket
Representatives from across the UK film industry are joining together in a new anti-piracy taskforce to tackle the scourge of illegal film copying and distribution - which is estimated to have cost the UK industry £400 million last year alone, the UK Film Council announced today.
Taskforce to tackle £400 million film piracy racket
Representatives from across the UK film industry are joining together in a new anti-piracy taskforce to tackle the scourge of illegal film copying and distribution - which is estimated to have cost the UK industry £400 million last year alone, the UK Film Council announced today.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A mostly cloudy start with scattered showers, the showers becoming more isolated and largely confined to the south this morning. Becoming brighter this afternoon, the best of any sunnier spells across northern counties. Northerly winds easing. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:A dry evening with late sunny spells and some long clear spells overnight. Becoming cloudier across the north towards dawn with a few showers possible. Touch of frost in south. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
