28/09/2011

Other UK News In Brief

Tragic Miner Named

There has been a stark reminder of the dangers of the mining industry today as the pit worker who died when a roof collapsed underground was named by the mine owner. Gerry Gibson, 49, died at Kellingley Colliery, North Yorkshire, yesterday when he was trapped with a colleague, who was rescued. In a joint statement with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), UK Coal said: "UK Coal and the NUM regret to confirm the name of our colleague and friend who lost his life in yesterday's tragic accident has been named as Gerry Gibson. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Gerry during this tragic time." Andrew Macintosh - UK Coal's communications director - said the initial inquiry had shown no problems with the coal seam or the equipment, which he said was almost brand new, costing millions of pounds.

Taxing Time For EC

Plans to impose a financial transaction tax on EU members will not be easily accepted by the UK. It has said it will "resist" a proposed bid to raise money by the European Commission. The tax would raise about €57bn ($78bn; £50bn) a year and would come into effect at the start of 2014. Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said banks must "make a contribution" as Europe faced its "greatest challenge". The UK said it had no objection to a financial tax in principle, but it would have to be introduced globally.

Lady With Lamp Defended

Academics have complained to BBC Trust Chairman Lord Patten about a series of documentaries that they insist belittle the famous nurse, Florence Nightingale - the Lady With The Lamp - by labelling her as a 'manipulative, neurotic and sexually repressed woman'. The academics from University College London and the University of Manchester also attack claims that the nurse inadvertently killed troops during the Crimean War through medical error. The group, led by Professor Lynn MacDonald from the University of Guelph in Canada, called on the BBC to withdraw from shops copies of Florence Nightingale: Iron Maiden from 2001 and Reputations: Florence Nightingale from 2008.

(BMcC/GK)

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