28/05/2014

Other News In Brief

Royal Navy Seizes £8.5m Haul Of Heroin

The Royal Navy has seized an £8.5 million haul of heroin after a raid on a suspect vessel in the northern Arabian Sea.

Nearly 60 kilograms of heroin were seized by sailors and Royal Marines from HMS Somerset, who intercepted the fishing boat in Royal Navy fast boats.

HMS Somerset's crew found the dhow, a type of vessel common to the Middle East and Indian Ocean, during an operation for the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) counter-terrorism Combined Task Force (CTF) 150.

Royal Navy Commodore Jeremy Blunden, commander of CFT 150, said: "I am delighted that HMS Somerset has made this interception and I offer my congratulations to Commander Smith and his team for finding this well hidden contraband in difficult conditions.

"This is the ninth seizure of heroin that CTF 150 has made this year as part of a determined effort to combat both the flow of heroin across the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean to east Africa, and funding to terrorist organisations. The destruction of the drugs will reduce key funding lines for known terror groups."

Salford Council Tenants Could Benefit From £75m Investment

Council tenants in Salford could benefit from up to £75 million investment in their homes.

Housing Minister Kris Hopkins gave the green light for Salford City Council to transfer ownership of its social homes to Salix Homes - by writing off the council's £65.1 million historic housing debt.

The minister described the deal as "great news for Salford residents".

Currently, Salford’s 8,500 social homes are owned by Salford City Council and managed by Salix Homes, a not-for-profit company.

Under the terms of the deal reached today, Salford City Council would transfer ownership of the homes to Salix, while the government would write off its £65.1 million historic housing debt.

In exchange, Salix Homes has made a commitment to invest £75 million to ensure that all 8,500 properties will reach the government’s Decent Homes standard by 2020.

George Osborne's Cat Rescued One Mile From Home

George Osborne's Cat Freya has been rescued by charity worker Kate Jones.

Freya has returned to Downing Street after she went missing more than a mile and a half away form her Westminster home before being found.

The pet spent the night with Ms Jones before being collected by Downing Street officials. She said: "I'm not so used to working with homeless cats but when we saw Freya we realised how distressed she was, we did the only right thing possible, and helped her get off the streets too."

The cat also disappeared from the family's Notting Hill home in 2009.

(CVS/CD)

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