Thursday, February 13

Day: January 22, 2017

Nought to 103 in six generations: Bradford family claim UK record
ENGLISH, United Kingdom

Nought to 103 in six generations: Bradford family claim UK record

    A family from West Yorkshire is believed to be the first in Britain to have six generations alive at the same time. The Hanson family from Bradford has 44 living members ranging from the oldest, aged 103, to the most recent arrival, born on Christmas Day. Baby Finley is the great-great-great-grandson of the matriarch of the tribe, Hilda Hanson, known affectionately as little gran. Talking to BBC Radio 5 Live on Saturday, Finley’s great-grandmother Sue Godward, 62, said: When Finley was born, my daughter Nikki and Melissa, my other daughter, started researching big generation families and they could not find anybody else in Britain with six generations living. Nobody else has come forward with six generations. They located one in Alberta, Canada, who last month celebrated t...
Michelle Obama had a very awkward moment
America, ENGLISH

Michelle Obama had a very awkward moment

    There's a saying that a picture is worth a thousand words, and that applies to the outgoing First Lady Michelle Obama as she was given a parting gift by new First Lady Melania Trump. Following tradition, a very graceful Melania brought along a gift inside a Tiffany & Co. box for Michelle. As Melania and Donald walked up the steps of the White House, a gloved Melania carried the box and was quick to present it to Michelle . ABC With a hand outstretched, a warm Michelle ignored a handshake and went straight in for an embrace and a kiss on the cheeks. That's a present for you, a smiling Melania told Michelle, who awkwardly took the box and quickly turned for someone to take it from her so they can have their photo altogether on the White House steps. Her face said it all ...
Londoner’s pampering day for homeless women
ENGLISH, London

Londoner’s pampering day for homeless women

    A London businesswoman has organised a pampering day for homeless  in a bid to empower them” and “boost their self-worth. Roxana Mohammadian-Molina, 34, said she organised the day with the Whitechapel Mission homeless charity in east London to help vulnerable women believe in themselves. Ms Mohammadian-Molina, who used to run a beauty business, said her team of beauticians would transform a room at the charity's headquarters in east London into a professional-style salon offering free hair, makeup and nail treatments. The pampering afternoon, which expects to host around 30 women on Friday, coincides with the Whitechapel Mission’s weekly women-only sessions where homeless women, victims of domestic abuse and prostitutes can come to talk about their unique problems. Ms Moha...
Switzerland rejects post-Brexit alliance with UK against EU
ENGLISH, Europe

Switzerland rejects post-Brexit alliance with UK against EU

    Switzerland may be outside the European Union, but the country is not looking for an anti-EU alliance with the UK, its foreign minister has said. Following Theresa May’s 12-point Brexit blueprint speech, Swiss foreign minister Didier Burkhalter said: We want good, maybe even closer ties with Britain. But we will not forge an alliance with Britain against the EU. This dashes the hopes of businesses that the countries could work together to negotiate with the EU over terms of access to the single market while being able to restrict freedom of movement. In interviews with several Swiss newspapers, Mr Burkhalter said the Government had approved a plan last June to adjust bilateral relations with the UK as a result of the Brexit vote. Mr Burkhalter said Switzerland is prepared ...
MPs attack Theresa May’s extreme Brexit
ENGLISH, United Kingdom

MPs attack Theresa May’s extreme Brexit

    Dozens of Labour MPs have written to Theresa May condemning her plan to potentially put Britain through the hardest possible Brexit by threatening to leave the European Union with no trade deal. The Prime Minister has insisted she will walk away from negotiations with Brussels if she is only offered a bad deal, threatening to adopt a Singapore-style low-tax, low-regulation economic model to maintain competitiveness. The group of MPs have attacked Mrs May's idea, saying it would make Britain "the sweatshop of Europe" with public services, workers' rights and environmental protections all at risk. The letter was organised by senior Labour MP Chuka Umunna, who chairs Vote Leave Watch and said he would not rebel against Jeremy Corbyn over triggering Brexit. The Labour leader h...
Trump-May confirms meeting at White House on Friday
America, ENGLISH

Trump-May confirms meeting at White House on Friday

    British Prime Minister Theresa May says she will discuss free trade and the importance of the NATO military alliance when she meets President Donald Trump in Washington on Friday. May is set to become the first foreign leader to meet with the new president. She said Sunday she looks forward to expanding the special relationship between the U.S. and Britain. She told the BBC's Andrew Marr that the Trump administration is interested in a good trade deal with Britain despite its stated "America first" policy. May says Trump values NATO even though he has spoken critically of the alliance. The prime minister did not directly answer questions about whether she would challenge Trump on some of the comments he has made about women. She earlier criticized him for derogatory commen...
Britain putting arms sales to Turkey above human rights
ENGLISH, United Kingdom

Britain putting arms sales to Turkey above human rights

    Britain has sold almost £50m-worth of arms to Turkey since the crackdown on opposition groups by the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after last year’s failed coup attempt. Newly published export statistics confirm that Turkey is now a major buyer of UK-made weapons. Between 1 July and 30 September, the UK sold Turkey £26m-worth of ML13 licences, which relate to exports of armoured plate, body armour and helmets. In addition, Britain sold Turkey £8.5m-worth of ML10 licences, for aircraft, helicopters and drones, and almost £4m-worth of ML4 licences, for missiles, bombs and counter-measures. Since 2015 the UK has sold Turkey £330m-worth of arms. The country is on the Department for International Trade’s list of priority markets for arms exports. But the sales come amid mo...
UK must relax immigration rules for Australians
ENGLISH, United Kingdom

UK must relax immigration rules for Australians

    Britain will have to relax immigration rules for Australians if it wants to strike a free trade deal with the Commonwealth nation, its high commissioner to London has said. Alexander Downer said Australia would seek better access for businesspeople before reaching a post-Brexit trade agreement with the UK. Theresa May has made clear that she wants to reform the UK’s relationship with the EU customs union so it can agree trade deals with countries from around the world after Brexit. Australia is ready to reach a deal with Britain and it may take on more urgency given United States president Donald Trump’s wish to pursue an “America first” strategy, raising doubts about a potential UK-US agreement. Mr Downer told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: We would want to see greater ac...
Downing Street No 10 covered up botched missile Trident test
ENGLISH, London

Downing Street No 10 covered up botched missile Trident test

    Downing Street is being accused of a cover-up after a malfunction in Britain's Trident nuclear weapons deterrent in a test just weeks before a crucial House of Commons vote. The Sunday Times reports that a Trident II D5 missile experienced a failure after being launched from the British submarine HMS Vengeance off the coast of Florida in June last year. MPs are now demanding an inquiry and are calling for a Commons statement from Defence Secretary Michael Fallon on Monday. The cause of the failure remains secret, but a naval source told The Sunday Times that the missile - which was unarmed for the test - may have veered off in the wrong direction towards America. There was a major panic at the highest level of government and the military after the first test of our nuclear...