Thursday, February 13

Day: April 17, 2017

Thousands of asylum seekers and migrants wrongly denied NHS healthcare
ENGLISH, United Kingdom

Thousands of asylum seekers and migrants wrongly denied NHS healthcare

    Thousands of asylum seekers and migrants have been wrongly denied NHS healthcare, in some cases being refused treatment despite suffering from life-threatening conditions such as cancer and heart disease, doctors have warned. Undocumented migrants with urgent care needs have been refused treatment by hospitals, despite NHS guidelines that state no one should be refused urgent or immediately necessary treatment because they cannot pay, The Independent has learned. A large number of migrants have also been wrongly turned away from registering at GP surgeries on the grounds that they did not provide identification documents. In other cases, The Independent has seen emails showing asylum seekers who have the right to free healthcare have been wrongly charged for hospital treat...
South Korea’s ex-president Park indicted for bribery
Asia, ENGLISH

South Korea’s ex-president Park indicted for bribery

    South Korea’s ousted President Park Geun-Hye was Monday charged with bribery involving millions of dollars over the corruption scandal that sparked her downfall. Park, whose impeachment was confirmed by Seoul’s top court last month, also faces charges of abusing her powers and leaking state secrets, Seoul prosecutors probing the scandal said in a statement. We have formally charged Park... with multiple offences including abuse of power, coercion, bribery and leaking state secrets,’ they said after wrapping up the months-long investigation. Park is accused of colluding with her confidante Choi Soon-sil, who is already on trial, in coercing local conglomerates into donating a total of 77.4 billion won ($68 million) to two non-profit foundations. Choi allegedly used some of ...
Britain set to lose EU crown jewels of banking and medicine agencies
ENGLISH, Europe

Britain set to lose EU crown jewels of banking and medicine agencies

    European Council president Donald Tusk will help determine where the two agencies leaving Britain will relocate. The EU is set to inflict a double humiliation on Theresa May, stripping Britain of its European agencies within weeks, while formally rejecting the prime minister’s calls for early trade talks. The Observer has learned that EU diplomats agreed their uncompromising position at a crunch meeting on Tuesday, held to set out the union’s strategy in the talks due to start next month. A beauty contest between member states who want the European banking and medicine agencies, currently located in London, will begin within two weeks, with selection criteria to be unveiled by the president of the European council, Donald Tusk. The European Banking Authority and the Europe...
China and Russia dispatch ships to shadow Donald Trump’s armada as it approaches North Korean waters
Asia, ENGLISH

China and Russia dispatch ships to shadow Donald Trump’s armada as it approaches North Korean waters

    China and Russia have dispatched spy vessels to shadow a US aircraft carrier group heading to North Korean waters, Japanese media said, amid rising tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions. Beijing sought Russian help in averting a crisis over North Korea last week, as concerns grow in China that Donald Trump is seeking to confront North Korea over its weapon’s program. The US president sent a navy group led by the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson into the region, in what is being seen as a signal to Pyongyang. Mr Trump described the force as an “armada” and said that submarines were being sent which were far more powerful than the aircraft carrier. The Yomiuri Shimbun, citing multiple sources of the Japanese government, said China and Russia had dispatched intelligence-gat...
Turkey votes to expand president’s powers: critics cry fraud
ENGLISH, Europe

Turkey votes to expand president’s powers: critics cry fraud

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won a historic referendum Sunday that will greatly expand the powers of his office, although opposition parties questioned the outcome and said they would challenge the results. With nearly all ballots counted, the "yes" vote stood at 51.41 percent, while the "no" vote was 48.59 percent, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency. The head of Turkey's electoral board confirmed the "yes" victory and said final results would be declared in 11-12 days. Although the margin fell short of the sweeping victory Erdogan had sought in the landmark referendum, it could nevertheless cement his hold on power in Turkey and is expected to have a huge effect on the country's long-term political future and its international relations. The 18 constituti...